/.^
After a woodcut by Hans Weiditz in H. Ziegler's German translation of
Boccaccio's De casibus, published by Steiner in Augsburg, Feb. 27, 1545, fol. n.
verso. The woodcut is one of 261 completed by Weiditz in the years 1519*20,
and first published in the" Trostspiegel," Steiner, Augsburg, 1532. (See Dodgson,
Catalogue of Early German and Flemish Woodcuts m the British Museum, 11.
pp. 144, 157.) Approximately original size, 157x100.
jA>. LYDGATE'S
FALL OF PRINCES
EDITED BY
HENRY BERGEN
PART I.
(Books I. and IL)
\
CK-
The Carnegie Institution of Washington
Washington, 1923
<s
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON
Publication No. 262
P£>
I /
THE PLIMPTON PRESS'NORWOOD'MASS*U*S-A
%
LYDGATE'S FALL OF PRINCES
PART L
INTRODUCTORY NOTE, THE METRE, BOCCACCIO'S
AND LAURENCE'S PREFACES, Etc.
BOOKS I. AND 11.
4^
-^
CONTENTS OF PART I.
Introductory Note ix-xxvii
The Metre xxviii-xlvi
Boccaccio's and Laurence's Prefaces, etc. . . xlvii-lxv
Book I i-i99
Book II 200-328
ERRATA
On page 174, line 6172, patisynge is a more correct
reading than paryschyng.
On page 426, line 3514, for Lacedemonios, read
Lacedemonois.
On page 815, line 1453, for impreuable read im-
prenahle.
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS
FALL OF PRINCES.
Part I, p. xlix, line 2 from bottom, for hoifs read ho;;;i«es.
,, p. 3, line 88, Miss Hammond suggested to me that " spare " means
to spar up, support, in other words that it is not related to OE
sparian, to spare, but is a verb formed from ME sparre, a spar,
timber.
„ p. 46, hne 1659, " thenbracyng of Pheton." This is not the English
word " embracing," but, as Laurence says, " lembrasement de
Pheton qui en grec signifie feu ou challeur " (comp. Part IV, 144).
Lat. brdsa, Fr. braise, glowing charcoal; braiser, to cook on hot
charcoal; enbyaser, to set fire to, to make glow.
Part III, p. S09, side-note to 1223-24 should read : " Lead, called leprous
gold and Tin of Jupiter, is duU of sound ; mercur\- is false and
fugitive."
„ p. 1029, hne no, insert hast after in.
Part IV, p. 92, line 12 from bottom : delete (also Wayland).
,, pp. 113, 114. To the twelve copies of P^mson's 1494 edition
mentioned, a thirteenth may be added ; namely, the New-
battle Abbey copy, which was sold by the American Art
Association in New York on January- 28, 1932. According to
the catalogue (Selections from the Famous Libraries of the most
hon. the Marquess of Lothian, New York, 1932), p. 57 (facing
facsimile of title-page), the volume is imperfect: 57 leaves
(a 1-8, b 2-3, h 6-8, i 1-3, k 4-8, 1 1-2, 4-5, n 4-6, o 1-8, p 1-3,
q 1-2, 7-8, r 2-8, s 1-4, C I and D 4-5) are missing and have
been made up with leaves taken from the edition of 1527.
On p. 46 of the same catalogue it is stated that the New-
battle Abbey copy of the Colard Mansion edition of Laurence's
first version is " one of three known copies . . . the two others
are both in public hbraries and both are imperfect." Actually
there are thirteen or fourteen known copies; the Newbattle
Abbey copy, however, is according to Henri Michel the only
known copv in the third state (comp. Fall of Princes, Part IV,
128).
„ p. 120. For a discussion of Wayland '3 print and its relation to
the Mirror for Magistrates, see Professor W. T. Trench, A
Mirror for Magistrates, London, 1898, and Lily B. Campbell,
The Suppressed Edition of A Mirror for Magistrates in the
Huntington Library Bulletin, No. 6, November 1934.
THE DAUNCE OF MACHABREE
As a result of an abortive attempt to collate both Harley 116 and Lans-
downe 699, each of which belongs to a different group of ^ISS. (Harley to
the Ellesmere group (A) , and Lansdowne to the B group) and of the fact
that the incomplete variants were pieced together, in part with incorrect
attributions, while I was in America in 191S-19, only to be forgotten and
left unrevised on my return to England in 191 9, and finally, in 1923, in-
advertently printed as they stood, the footnotes to the Daunce of Machabree
are in a state of error and confusion that must be seen to be believed.
The only amends I can make is : i. to refer the reader to the edition of the
(^
2 Additions and Corrections to the Fall of Princes.
Dance of Death edited by the late Miss Florence Warren, with introduction
and notes by Miss Beatrice White of King's College, London, where he will
find the Ellesmere and Lansdowne IMSS. printed complete, together with a
collation of all the known MSS., and 2. to supply the following revised
collation of Harley 116 and Lansdowne 699.
I was not struck by it at the time, but 1 now have a strong suspicion that
in spite of their manner, and to a certain extent their vocabulary, many if
not all of the additional stanzas in the B group, as well as the major variants,
are not by Lydgate, who so far as we know was not in the habit of revising
his work, but by another hand (or hands). All the at present known MSS.
are late and excessively corrupt, but with few exceptions the additional
stanzas, substituted lines and other textual alterations in the B group are
at the worst so inferior and at the best so indifferent both in sentiment and
in metre as compared with the A group, that I find it difficult to believe
that Lydgate had anything to do with them. Even the Emperesse, the
Mayr, the Chanoun Reguler and the Doctor utriusque Juris, although I
should hesitate to include them positively as later additions, have a
certain emptiness difficult to parallel in the A version and could very well
be imitations of Lydgate's style. On the other hand, the Justice and
Monialis are metrically impossible as they stand, the Artifex (also metrically
bad, and in which Death appears as a woman), the Sergeant in Law, the
substituted seventh line of the Jurour, the Famulus, and Machabre the
Doctour, seem to be hardly more than a travesty of Lydgate. It is also
difficult to believe that the Dean, the Physician, the Minstrel (especially
his Kesponse) and the two final stanzas are revisions. A careful study of
the relations of the MSS. to one another as well as of the poem itself — its
vocabulary, rhyme and metre — would be of great interest.
VARIANT READINGS IN MS. LANSDOWNE 699 = L:
The first five stanzas are omitted. 46 of Machabree] which that ye see.
47 ylike] om. 48 ne] nor. 49 wight] man. 51 toforne] before — shall go.
56 00] oon. — yforged] Forgid. 57 most] om. 59 hath] have. 60 and
states temporall] most in especiall. 65 for] with deth. 71 which al] sich.
75 mot] must. 77 leue your] lat. 79 is worth] vaileth. 81 that] om.
— me] om. 82 Whan deth me sailith that doth me constreyn. 83 helpen]
socour. 86 and] and my. 87 Wher vpon sore I me compleyn. go
sheweth] seemeth. gi yet for-thy] for al that. 92 folke my] estates this.
93 ye] om. 95 I fee;'e. 96 honour] worship. g7 certes this] trewly it.
g8 to dreede. loi vnto] to. 102 eke] hecr. 103 which] the which.
— conceyued] lemyd. 104 That worldly] How that al. Two stanzas, the
Imperatrix and her response, are here included in L : Lat se your hand / my
lady dame Empresse : Have no disdeyn / with me for to daunce : Ye may a
side / leyn al your richesse : Your fresh attyres / devises of plesauHce :
Your soleyn cheeris / your strange countenaunce : Your clothis of gold /
most vncouthly wrouht : Hauyng of deth / ful litcl remembrance : But
now se wcel al is come to nouht : Rcsponsum : What availeth / gold
richesse o[r] perre : Or what availeth / hili blood or lentylnesse : Or what
availeth / freshnesse or beaute : Or what is worth / hih portc o[r] straunge-
nesse : Deth seith chck mat / to al sich veyn noblesse : All worldly power /
now may me nat availe : RauKSOun kyndrede / frenship nor worthynesse :
Syn deth is come / myn hih estat tassaile. 105 O] Right. 107 That som
tyme had so gret possessiot^n. 108 Rewmys obeyng / vn to your hih
noblesse. log Ye most of nature / to this daunce yow dres.se. no &
P'ynally your crouwne / & sceptre leete. in Who] For who so. — here]
om. 113 nought] nat. — toforn] afforn. 115 Wher bi I see / ful cleerly
in substauMce. 116 or force of high linage] force or hih parage. 119 is]
that is. — 1 holde hym most sage] hath most avauwtage. 121 Sir
I'atriarch / ful sad & huwble of cheere. 122 Ye mote with othir / gon on
this dauMce with. 125 very] trouth. 126 Be possid / in hast as I rehers
can. 127 Trusteth] Trust. 129 gret] ovi. 131 olde ioyes] ioies old.
Additions and Corrections to the Fall of Princes. 3
— tristesse] distresse. 132 treasours' honour. 133 for' to. 134 estates"
estat. — wasten' waste. 135 Who so montith hihest stondith most in
drede. 136 Create" Such heuy. — hym oft" hem often. The Cunstable
is replaced bv the Princeps, in which only the third hne is similar to that
in the A group : Riht mvhty pr>-nce / be rith weell certeyn : This d&unce to
yow / is Tnot eschewable] : For more myht>- ' than euer was Carlema\-n :
6r worthy Arthour / of prowes ful notable : With al his knyhtes of the
rouKde table : What did ther platis ther armour or ther made : Ther
strong corage ' ther sheeldes defensable : A ge\-ns deth >vaile; , whan he
hem dide assaile. The reponse shows fewer variations. 145 whole] myn.
146 assail" assegid. 147 And br\-nge folke] RebeUis to br\-ng. 148 To
seeke worshipis ' fame & "grete r\-chesses]. 149 See" se weel. — prowess'e>.
150 which is a great' wher of I have. 151 eke] om. — swetnesses. 153
voul so. 154 So frowardlv] Your look your face. 155 Yee must obey to
[my] mortal lawe. 156 contran.-] co»stre\Tie. 157 For day bi day be
right wele certe^-n. 15S the] o»i. 159 Preestes & deth may nat be holden
a geyn. 160 a daye] oon our. — contith. 162 haue so gret] stonde in
sich. 163 might" power. 164 That who-soj But who that it. 166 And
se>Ti A-dieu / pompe and p;-/de also. 167 My pexTited paleys / tresour &
richesse. 169 Erl or Baron ' which that thourh regiouKS. 170 Have sore
laboured / for worship & renoim. 172 This] om. 173 Whylom] som
t\-me. — and] & your. 174 ^^'as in estat / & wordly wurship to glade.
175 oft it] often t\-me. 177 ofte sith] often tyme. 17S ewpr\-se — th},-ng.
179 high & lowl gret estates. iSo ladies & women] princes tt lordis. 181
Xe] Nor. 182 lordes courte] roial courtes. — was] weer. 185 But deth
vnwarly / al power makith lame. Under] And vndir. The next two
stanzas, the Princess and her response, are omitted in L. 201 My Lord]
Com ner. — with] with your. 202 soothlye I] soth I yow. 207 couwte.
208 ouer] on. 209 Of these tid^•nges ,' I am no th\-ng glaad. 210 \Much
deth to me ; so sodeynly doth br\-ng. 211 It makith my face & cou«ten-
au«ce ful saad. 213 now to my] to me in. 215 And needis we must / on
to our departATig. 217 Commeth forth Syr Squyer] Knyht or sc\vyer —
gises. 219 fresshe] wele. 220 devises. 221 on you so] upon yow. —
high emprise] straunge emprises. 224 stroke] power. 225 Sith. 226 that]
oni. 22S whilom] som t>Tne. 229 Adieu beaute that lastith but short space.
Here L, together with the other MSS. of the B group, includes the following
four stanzas on the " Maior " and the '" Canonicus Regularis " : Com forth
sir Ma\T ; which had gou^mau^-'ce : Bi poUicie to rewle this cite : Thouh
your power / were notable in siebstaunce : To flee my dau>!ce ye have no
liberte : Estate is noon nor wordly dygn^-te : That may escape ' out of
my dau'.'geris ; To f\'nde rescew / exau>;!ple ye may se : Xouther bi
richesse / nor force of off ceres. Responsum : What helpith now ' thestat
in which I stood : To rewle Cites / or Comouws to goueme : Plente of
richesse / or increce of good : Or olde ^^-^-nn^^lg / that cometh to me so
yeme : Deth al defaceth who so list to leme : Me for tareste ' he com\-th
on so faste : Eche man ther fore shold a fore disceme : Prudently to
th^-nk \'pon his laste. The Canonicus Regularis : Lat see your hand ' sir
chanon Reguler : Som tvme sworn ' to religioim : As huw!ble soget &
obedienceer : Chastly to live ,' lik vour professioifn : But ther may be no
consolaciojm : Age\Ti mv sawes ' sode\'n & cruell : Except oonly / for
short conclusioim : Who liveth in vertu : mot nedis dey weel. Respon-
sum : Whi shulde I grutche ' or disobeye : The th\Tig which ' of verrey
kyndly riht : Was I orde\-ned & born for to deye : As in this world is
orde\Tied euer\- wiht : Which to remembre is no thyng liht : Pra\-ng the
lord / that was sprad on the roode : To medle mercy / with his eternal
myht : And save the sowles that he bouht with his blood. 233 Commeth
forth Syr Abbot] Sir Abbot and priour. 234 To been abassht / ye have a
maner riht. 236 noth\-ng" nat. 237 Leven your lordship. 239 Who
that] Who so — to hyw; I have. 240 In his grave sonnest shal
putrefie. 241 o] no. 242 bnow] o»i. — al] al maner. 244 This doth
to me ' somwhat the lesse grevau;fce. 245 libertes. 246 availe. 24S
in d^-ing] to fom deth. 250 mantyl. 252 bedes sister] beddes softe.
4 Additions and Corrections to the Fall of Princes.
255 for] om. 256 no] om. 257 this for me] oni. 258 it nought declyne]
nat hy;« eschewe. 259 If it so be ful oft] Vnto this of riht. 260 That heer
with othir / I must his trace sewe. 261 This pilgrymage / to every man is
dewe. 262 An ernest mateer / a mateer of no iape. 263 Who that is
alwey redy / shal nevir rewe. 264 The hour abydyng / that god hath for
hym shape. Here are inserted four stanzas, the Index and the Doctor
vtriusque juris and their responses. The two stanzas on the Bayly are
omitted. That hand of youres / my lord lustice : That have rewlid / so
long the lawe : Weel may men holde / yow war & wise : So that this drauht /
be weel drawe : Escape shal ye nat / wold ye neuer so fawe : Sich dome to
have / as ye have youen in soth : Wher fore men seyn / of an olde sawe :
Weel is hy;M / that alwey weel doth. Response : Alias ne were / that myn
entent : Was weele dressid / thouh I othir while erryd : Now shuld I vttrely /
be shamyd & shent : For many causes / that I have oftyn d[e]ferrid :
Sauff mercy oonly / now were I marrid : Blissid ther fore / is enery wiht :
As bi holy scriptur / may ben averrid : That in all tyme / doth lawe &
kepith riht. The Doctor Vtriusque juris : Com forth doctour / of Canon
cS; Cyvile : In bothe these lawis / of long cowtinuaunce : Your tyme hath
spent / bewar ye did no gile : In your mateers / for to han fortherauwce :
Now must ye lerne / with me for to dauwce : All your lawe / may yow nat
a vaile : Gifl me your hand / & make no perturbauwce : Your hour is
come / this is withonten faile. His re.sponse : A mercy lesn / whow man-
kynde is freele : And litel tyme / in this worlde abydyng : No man of his
liiffi / hath charter nor seele : Ther fore it may / be likned in all thyng :
Vnto a Flour / so amorously fioorsshyng : Which with a Froste / bi gynneth
riht sone to fade : Whan cruell deth / his massage list to bryng : Al
liffly thyng / he bryngeth in the s[h]ade. 281 Maister] om. — lookest]
loken. 287 aresteth] doth arrest. 289 and] or. 290 nought] om. 291 Ne
in the] Nor in. — seke] serche out. 292 nor] or. 294 descriven. 296
Who liueth aryght] om. The two stanzas on the Burgess are omitted. The
Chanon Seculer is headed Decanus in L. 313 And ye Syr] Sir dean or.
315 In gret array / your tresour to dispende. 316 With all your richesse /
& your possessiouws. 317 For kynde hath sett / hir revoluciouws. 318
Eche man som day / to dau«ce on dethis brynk. 319 Ther of ye may, etc.
320 For deth cometh evir, etc. 321 My divers cures / my riche pej-sonages.
322 God wot ful lite] Alias ful litel thei. 323 Deth vpon me / hath geten
his avantages. 324 That] om. — can make me now no sporte. 325 gris]
grey. — wyl] must. 326 a surples and] with many a gret. 327 For
which trewly / as clerkis can reporte. 328 deye. Here follow two stanzas,
" Monialis " and response, in L : Thouh ye be barbid / & claad in clothis
blaake : Chastly receyued / the mantil & the ryng : Ye may nat the
cours / of nature for sake : To daunce with othir / now at my comyng :
In this world / is non abidyng : Nouthir of maide / widewe nor wiff :
As ye may seen / heer cleerly bi wrytyng : That a geyns deth / is iounde
no preseruatiff. The Response : It helpith nat / to stryve a geyn natwre :
Namely whan deth / bi gynneth tassaile : Wher fore I couwseil / euery
creature : To been redy / a geyn this fel batayle : Vertu is sewrer / than
othir plate or maile : Also no thyng / may helpe at sich a nede : Than to
provide / a sur acquytaile : With the hand of almesse / to love god &.
drede. 329 Ye] Come. — ye mot] &. 330 That passid haue] Which
hast passid. — ful] om. 331 regard] reward. 333 ye, your] thou, thyn.
334 Al thyn old labour / wher is it be come now. 336 coveitith than he
that hath. 338 many] om. 339 Bi strauwge seeis carried. 341 ay] evir.
342 now] om. — me doth] doth me. 344 litle] he lityl. Two stanzas,
the " Artifex " and his response, follow here in L : Yeve hidir thyn hand /
thou Artificeer : For ther is fouMcle / no subtilite : Bi witt of man / that
fro my dauwgeer : To save \\ym silff / can have no liberte : My strook is
sodeyn / fro which no man may flee : Bi coriouste / nor cunnyng of fressh
devise : Kynde hath ordeyned / it will non othir be : Eche man mote
passe / whan deth settith assise. The Response : Ther is no craft / serchid
out nor souht : Cast nor compassid / bi old nor newe entaile : I se ful weel /
withynne myw owen thouht : A geyns deth / [whiche that may] availe :
Additions and Corrections to the Fall of Princes. 5
She p^rshith sheeldis •' she pershith plate & maile : A ge\-ns her strok -'
cunnyng nor science : Whan that hir Ust mortally to assaile : Alas alias
ther mav be no deffence. 347 and vour selt doth your chyne. 351 as^
outward'. 353 long agon" ago ful longe. 355 And; om. 356 Dreadeth]
Dredith hvw. — kindly; naturall. 35S But please to God; Plese it lorde.
361 Sir' oin. — vour; thi. 362 nor; nor no. 364 ye; thou. 366 you; the.
367 sturdi a. 36S another is also; deth is \-it mor. 369 durste; darst.
370 Thafi Which. 371 Which; And. — 'bothen; \valk>-ng. 372 ful
surquedou's of with ful dispitous. 373 arested; arest. 374 can; may.
375 both' o;«. 376 for" om. The four stanzas on the Monke and the
Usurer, as well as the stanza, " The Poore Man boroweth of the Usurer,"
are omitted in L. The stanzas on the " Physicien " are quite different in
L : Ye phisiciens / for monv that loken so fast : In othir mennys watris
what thei evle : Look weel to your silf / or att last : I not what your
medic\Ties / nor crafte may av'aile : For deth com>-ng , sode\-nly doth
assaile' : As weel lechis as othir that shal ye knowe : Atte last lugement /
withouten anv faile : \\'han al men shal repe as thei have sowe^ The
Response ; Alias to long and to myche in phisik ; For lucre I plye;d; al
mv bis\-nes5e : Bothe in specIacio;.'n / ^v in practik : To knowe ^t konne al
bo'dely"siknes=e : But of gostly helthe I was reklesse : Wher fore shal
helpe'nother herbe nor roote : Nor no medic\-ne saurt goddes goodnesse :
For a ge\-ns deth ■ is fN-naly no boote. The two stanzas on the Amerous
Squ^-re are omitted in L. 451 ye was; o»'.. 452 and; o>n. 453 thei went
otn. ' 455 daunger long in loue; deynous dau>.'geer. 456 Vnto this dau>:ce
ye mote your fot>-ng dresse. '457 sparist. The Man of Law is called the
Sergeant in Lawe in L. 465 Syr Aduocate; Come neer sir Sergeant. 466
highe iudge; Iu;ge; on hihe. 467 quarei; quarell thouh. 46S to folke
refuge; folk gret remedie. 469 Ther shal your sotil wittis be deemyd
rfoh-;. 470 YifiE sleathe / & covetise be nat exiled. 471 Be war bi t\-mes
& labour for mercy. 472 For thei that trust most thew silff ar sonnest
bigiled. 474 I can alleggen nor make no diffence. 475 Xor bi sleihte
nor statute me with drawe. Tescape a way - from this dreedful sentence.
477 For al my witt , nor gret prudence. 4 78 No th^mg ;i;n erthe may no
man preser\-e. 479 Agayn; A ge^ms. 4S0; oni. Here L omits Master
John Rikil Tregetour and the Parson, four stanzas. 515 like to; aftir.
519 But lat se now that wythinne so short a space. 520 Before — acqu\-te.
521 Som t^Tne I was callid, etc. 524 whom; om. 525 Hang — acqu\te.
52S a man is; oon wole be. The two stanzas on the Minstrel are replaced
by two others so different that they must be given entire : Gentil menstral
shewe now thi witt : How thou canst pleye or foote ariht this dau)!ce :
I dar weel sei that an harder fitt : Than this ; fil neuyr to thi chauKce :
Look ther fore what may best avauwce : Thi sowle as now & vse that I
reede : Refuse nyce play & vevn plesau^ce : Bettir late than neuyr to
do good deede. The Response : Ey benedicite this world is freele : Now
glad / now sor\- what shal men vse : Harpe lute phidil pipe farwell :
Sautr\- Sithol & Shalmuse : Al wordlv m\Tthe I here refuse : God
grauwte me grace ' of sich penaunce : As may myn old s>Tines excuse :
For alle be nat mer\- that othir whyle dau'.ce. The two following stanza.s,
the Famulus and his response, are included here in L : Seruant or of?.cer /
in th\Ti office : Yifi thou hast ben as god wold ct riht : To poore A; riche /
doon ple\-n lustice : Fled extorciouw with al thy myht : Than maist thou /
in this dauwce go hht : Or elles ful hevy- ' shalt thou be thanne : Whan alle
domys shal fynaly be diht : Go we hens the tvde a bidith no man. The
Response : Shal I so sone to dethis dauwce : That wend to have l\•^•ed
yeeris many mo : And sodeynly forsake al my plesauwce : Of offices /
& profites ;that; long ther to : Yit oon th\-ng I consel or I go : In offi.ce
lat no man doon outrage : For dreede of god A: pevn also : Also sen.-ice _
is noon heritage. 546 fuF ow. 547 Ye must eke; Thou must here. 54? if;
thouh. 550 this; the. — from thee' for. 551 The' This. — can so folkes;
causith folk to. 552 He; For he. 554 Albe that; Al thouh. 556 to haue
gon at the plowe; & go;n; forth at ;the; plouh. 55S diked — atte cart.
559 telle platly howe; ple\-nly avow. 560 In this world here / rest is ther
6 Additions and Corrections to the Fall of Princes.
noon. 561 Come forth thou frere / to the, etc. 562 To] Vpon. — you]
the. 563 your] thi — hast ful often tauht. 564 most] oyn. 565 Albe] al
thouh. — thereto] ther of. 566 nor] ne. 567 Death dare hym rest] I
dar arrest hym. 570 to abide] for tabide. 571 Strength] Strengthe nor.
— so] om. 572 Of] O. 579 beforne] to forn. 580 in hast by fatall] with
hem with sotil. 518 ouer] of. — upon my] on this. 582 escape in soth]
in soth skape. 584 Who] Who so. 585 a] o. 586 so] ful. 587 so] ful.
588 list no lenger to] of his strok list. 589 come] cam. 590 Of me no] On
me more. — ye] om. 592 As] For as. — man] sheep. The stanzas on
the Yong Gierke are omitted in L. 610 there] om. At the laste yet]
Tyme is come that. 612 thexpenence. 613 may be] is. 614 hermitage]
heritage. 615 aduert to] advertise. 616 That this lift heer / is but a
pilgrymage. 617 To liue] Liff. 618 again] a geyns. — • respite none nor
space] no respite nor [sp]ace. 620 by] be. 621 hym] my lord. 622 and
great habundaunce] such as I have assayed. 624 that lacketh sufEraunce]
but he that halt hym payed. The next stanza, Death speaketh agayn to
the Hermite, is omitted in L. The last three stanzas are entitled " Con-
clusio " in L. 633 Ye] Ye ye. — loken — portrature] scripture. 634 Be-
holding] Conceyveth. — all] that al. 635 been] be. 637 haueth] have.
638 Be fore your mynde / a boven al thyng. 640 fine of our] ende of your.
641 What is mannys liff / but a countenauwce. 642 Or [as] a puff of
wynde / that is transitorie. 643 As may be weel / pcj'ceived bi this dauwce.
644 Ther fore ye / that reden this storye. 645 Keepe thentent / in your
memorye. 646 And it shal steer yow / in to gostly liff. 647 Teschewe
peyn / & come vnto glorie. 648 And be your socour / in al gostly stryff.
The final stanza in L is as follows : Be nat a fferd / this scriptur in tyme of
pley : In your mynde / to revolve & reede : For trust trewly / ye shal
nevir the sonner deye : But it shal cause yow / synne for to dreede : The
which refusid / ye shal have gret meede : Ther fore a mong / have mynde
on this lettir : And vse vertu / praj'er & almesse deede : And than I dar
sey / ye shal doon the bettir. The Lenuoye of the Translatoure, two stanzas,
is omitted in L.
Variant readings in MS. Harley 116 = H : 3 cuer lasten] laste exxer.
4 prouidence] prudennce. 5 To see a fore. 6 be] dethe {corrected to sleth).
"]] om. 8 high & loue. 9 not hight ne law. 11 in] in thaire. 13 Her] The.
17 Consideryng. 18 it] yit. 19 the example. 20 Full] But. 21 Ther of
franch clerkes. 30 that] whiche. 32 may clerly ther. 33 intentes. 36
surplusages. 38 declare] delyuere. 40 is transposed after 36. The next
stanza, " The Wordes of the Translatour," is included in the Prologue in H.
42 which] which pat. The foUoiuing .stanza [lines 49-56) is omitted. 57
O ye. — high] hight. 59 to] as. — hath] hadde. 61 ye] om. 64 of all]
om. 68 Seynt Petris] petres. 69 fro] om. 70 Vpon this] On his. 74
Most] om. — surmountyng] and hieste. 79 is worth] worthe is. 83 gin]
bote. 88 litle auauntage] so lytell vayntage. 90 it sheweth] me semeth.
97 this] Jjat. — faile] fable. 100 All myn array to leue be hend me [mis-
placed after loi). loi vnto] to. 107 whylom had] hadd somtyme. 109
great] om. no ye] you. 113 toforn] a fore. 114 sauage] sage (sa[ua]ge).
115 through] for. — by] my. 116 or] om. — of] or. 118 Great] bothe
grett. 119 hym] he is. 121 al] witA al. 122 quiteth] quite. — nor] for.
137 my] om. — arcst you and] rest and you. 140 enforcede. 141 ne]
nor. — this] is. 142 Nor] Ne. 143 most] om. 146 assail] haue assayled.
— mighty] om. — fortresse. 150 see] see well. 153 you] so. 158 the]
om. 160 a] 00. 163 to escape. — no] non. — se] seen. 166 &] my.
168 Thyng] For thinge. 169 Lordes] ladies. 172 nor] ne. 173 Whylom]
Som tyme. 174 daunsen] davne. 176 One] that 00. 177 sith] tymes.
178 Empryse. 185 good] and. 188 Nether] Nojjcr. — nor] ne. 190
whylom couth] somtyme cowde holde so. 195 this] his. 196 nis] is. 197
bountie nor in her] beaute ne in. 198] That she of Kight most nedys the
trace sew. 199 When] For to. — fairne.s] fresshnes. 200] Oure Reueled
age saith farwell adiev. 201 with] with your. 203 For] om. 208 ouer]
om. 209 nother] nothing. 214 Which al estates] That al folkes. 217
Commeth] Come. — of] in. 218 daunces] davncc. 221 toke] take.
Additions and Corrections to the Fall of Princes. 7
223 Daunseth" Da\Tice. — no" not. 225 Sithe. 227 now" ow. 22S
whilom^ somtyme. 229 al" oni. 233 Come. 234 Beeth nought] Be not —
haue. 235 rounde" large. 239 Who is most fatte. 241 manace] tretyse.
— hauen o gret] I haue noon. 243 cloystre. 244 is' o»i. 246 they vayle~
avaylle. 247 aske I] I haske. — devoute] hartly. 251 your r3,-ng]
passing. 252 bedes sister] beddys softe. — mot now le\-n a-syde] must
now lay on syde. 254 borne] and borne. 256 man] wyght. 259 If]
Thogh. 263 with] doth. 265 knowen] know. 26S Extorcioun. 271
exclude. 274 To] To the. 276 Whilom] Somt^ine. 277 by labour oft]
for favor or. 27S seth\-n — by] ne. 279 wel] o»i. 2S0 Ayen. 2S1 loken.
285 Sith that — genelogie. 291 difference] defence. 292 domif^-ing]
demonstr^-nge. 294 our] all our. 296 \Mio liueth an,-ght mot] But who so
Ij-ueth Ryght most. 299 strong] strange. 300 Toward] To. — mot you]
muste now. 302 came] come. 30S fordoth] distroieth. 310 on] of. 311
it] is. — the worlde wil it] and he will hit. 319 no] none. 320 ay] euer.
321 benefices — mony] many a. 322 hte] h-tell. 323 of] on. 324 That] o»i.
— may] may be. — nought disport] not support. 325 wyl] om. 326
a] om. 32S dye. 329 mot] must. 330 many a. 337 a] ow. 339 downe]
do. 340 more] mo. 349 striue] strve. 351 as] om. 355 And] Thoghe.
35S please] pleas it. 359 Fro] From. — 2nd fro] o»j. 360 ame to-day]
men be this day — not. 362 nor] ne no. 402 eke] om. 404 none] no.
406 loke] se. 40S seen] se. 417 on] in. 420 cunne] kanne. 421 so fer-
forth is iRonne. 422 Ayenste. 423 haue] hath. 426 eke] om. 432
Ayenste. 435 of hert eke desirous is erased. 436 chaunge] chanche. 43S
into] NTito. 439 al] all your. 442 A yenste. 446 so fresh so weF so well
and fresshe. 451 whilom] somt\-me. 455 hath lad] haue lede. 462 many
a man haue all»erede. 463 sentement] sentence. 466 plete] and plete.
— highe] om. 46S done to] to do. 470 auaile may] may a wale. 471
scapeth] schapith. 472 Be fore — nought teint] not ta}-ne. 474 nought'
om. — against] a yene. 475 kepen or] kepe ne. 476 al] o»;. 478
Nor noth}-ng] No no man. 479 make] make no. 4S0 quiteth] quiethe.
TJie Trege'tour and the Parson follow the Man of Law in Tottel, otherwise the
order is as in H. 4S1 whilom] somtyme. 4S5 my] this. 4S7 ne] and. 4S9
magike] mau;.'kynde. 492 the heauens] heuen. 493 A venste. 496
\\TOught] wronge, with " at longe " written oier it in a later hand as a correc-
tion. 497 now] om. 499 ic' and yo»r. 500 of] on. 502 to' vnto. 504
And] As. 509 and] om. 513 at] is at. 515 devise. 516 gaue] haue.
517 bothe] o»i. 518 folkes. 521 \\'hilom] Somt}-me. 523 Not. 525
Hange. 527 say. 529 canst. 530 do. 531 anone] soon. ^^2 go.
533 nef>er. 536 schewe. 539 doth] dethe. 540 measures] musures.
543 not. 545 Thou] O thou. 547 Ye] Thou — not. 548 if] thoghe — not.
550 from] om. 551 The] For the. — so] om. 552 lyve. 553 wished]
wissede. ^^^ haue] had. 557 haue labored. 558 Doluen and ditched]
Delue and dyke. 559 platiye] pla^-nly. 560 here there. 563 taught'.
564 that o>/i. 565] om. 567 h}-m rest] arest h\-m. — mede] man. 571
nor what so] ne what f>at. 572 Of] om. 573 no'r] ne. 577 Eiifante. 579
to fome. 58oledd. 593 Clarke — free] so free. 594 Fro] For. 595 wend]
om. 597 highest] hie. 59S ayenst. 599 at] in. 604 Xe— ne. 611 muste'.
613 J)er ayen. 615 f)frfor — to] om. 617 To hue] L}-fi. 618 a venst — ne.
619 houre] stewyne. 624 suffraunce] suffysance. 627 all his] om. 629
deserue God quiteth] serue god quite.' 630 To] The. 633 folk'e" folken —
purturature. 636 not elles. 637 haueth] haue. — ave' euer. 638
whylom] somtyme. 641 Mans lyfe is nought els] Man is life elles (hfe
inserted above the line). 644 haue! 645 Remembre. 645 the] om. 64S in
heuen that maketh. 649 been there] ther ben. 652 errours. 655 hnie.
657 my lordes A: maisters] m.aistres and folkes. 659 prav" prav vou.
663 suppowle. 666 in] the. 667 fro. 670 me' o;«. 672 Her""Thever.
',/ K
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
It was probably not long after May 143 1 that Lydgate
began his "Fall of Princes," ^ at the request of Humphrey, Duke
of Gloucester, who was lieutenant and warden of England
from April 1430 to early January 1432 during the absence
of Henry VI. in France.* The mention of Gloucester's prowess
against heretics (Prologue, 400-413) no doubt refers, as Miss
Hammond has suggested,' to the suppression of the Lollard
risings at Oxford, Salisbury and London in the spring of 143 1,
and perhaps to Gloucester's presence "at the beheading, at
Oxford, of a small band of men led by the bailiff of Abingdon,"
in May 143 1.* We do not know the date of the com-
pletion of the work, but as Lydgate complains of his age,
"more than three score years," in Book VHI, (he was sixty-
five in 1436), and was engaged on the "Life of Albon and
^ There has been confusion in regard to the title of the book: some students
write "falls" and others "fall"; one or two have on occasion used both forms.
Tottel's title-page seems to have been responsible for the plural, as Wayland
printed "tragedies" in his title and "fall" in the heading of the table of con-
tents, and Pynson "fall" (falle) in the titles and colophons of both his editions.
Among others who have followed Tottel are Thomas Arnold, Henry Morley,
Ten Brink, Koerting, Schick (who prefers "falles"), A. W. Ward, Courthope,
Saintsbury, and Lee (art. Lydgate, Diet. Nat. Biog.). G. Ellis, Hazlitt's Warton,
Taine, David Laing, Hortis, MacCracken, Miss Hammond, the Diet. Nat. Biog.
(art. Humphrey of Gloucester), and practically all catalogues of MSS., includ-
ing Ward, have "fall." R. Lane Poole prints "falls" on p. 229 of his edition
of Bale, Oxford, 1902, and "fall" on pp. 228 and 231; E. Gordon DuflF, "falls"
in Camb. Hist. Eng. Lit., H. 321, and "fall" elsewhere in his bibliographical
works. Earlier writers, such as William Baldwyn (preface to "Mirror of Mag-
istrates," ed. 1563), and Edward Phillips {Tbeatrum Poetarum Anglicanorunu,
ed. Brydges, 1800), and Thomas Gray have "fall"; Watt quotes "falls"
from Tottel; but Tottel himself printed "fall" in the heading of his table
of contents and in the colophon, fol. ccxviii verso. I have used "fall" because
there is no doubt that Lydgate himself called his book "The Fall of Princes."
He refers directly to it in lines VL 304 and IX. 3622, and in the same terms
to Boccaccio's original, L 51, 77, 270, 471, HL 133, VL 231, and to Chaucer's
"Monk's Tale" of the same title, L 249 and IX. 3422. He also used "fall"
as a subject of general interest (in reference to the opinions of Andalus di
Nigri), III. 174. "Fallys" he uses once as a subject of general interest, IX.
3450, and, so far as I have been able to discover, four times in reference to the
the "fallis" of specific princes.
* Prologue, 372 ff. * Anglia, 38. 133-136. * Jnglia, loc. cit.
X Introductory Note
Amphabel" in 1439, it is quite possible that, as Professor Schick
conjectures, it was finished in 1438 or 1439,^ perhaps before the
end of 1438; and there was at least a partial interruption
in 1433, while Lydgate was engaged in writing the "Legend
of St. Edmund and Fremund" at the command of Abbot
William Curteys, during and after a visit of Henry VI. to St.
Edmund's Bury, which lasted from Christmas 1432 to Easter
I433-'
The "Fall of Princes" consists of 36,365 lines of decasyllabic
verse arranged in seven and eight line stanzas,' rhyming ahabbcc
(rhyme royal) and ahabbcbc, and is a paraphrase of Des Cas des
Nobles Hommes et Femmes, Laurence de Premierfait's second,
amplified version in French prose of Giovanni Boccaccio's
De Casibus Virorum Illustrium.* The original Latin prose
work was written by Boccaccio between 1355 and 1360 and
dedicated to his friend, the chevalier Mainardo dei Caval-
canti, because "no emperor, king, prince or pope" seemed to
him worthy of his regard; and although a revised and some-
what augmented edition was issued at a later date (probably
before 1374), we are here concerned with the earlier text,
which is the one Laurence used in making his translation.^
The De Casibus might, as Henri Cochin suggests,^ be called
; a history of Fortune; for it is a collection gathered throughout
i the centuries describing the most memorable and crushing
^ Temple of Glas, p. cvii.
2 Legend of St. Edmund and Fremund, I. 187 fF. Temple of Glas, p. cvi.
* There are but few eight-line stanzas. See the Envoys on Arsinoe, Antio-
chus, the Scipios, Herod, and Charles of Anjou; the Chapitle of Fortune; the
Last Envoy, addressed to Humphrey, and the Words of the Translator to his
Book (IV. 3445, V. 1590, 1846, Vn. 246, IX. 2017, 3239, 3541, 3589).
* We sometimes meet with the title, De Casibus Virorum et fceminarum
Illustrium; but as Paul Durrieu has pointed out in his Le Boccace de Munich,
Munich, 1909, p. 19, the word virorum was used in the general sense of
"human beings," or, as we say, "people." (Parmi les ecrits latins de Boccace,
celui qui eut de beaucoup la plus grande notoriete fut le traite intitule De
Casibus virorum illustrium, le mot casibus repondant a la vieille expression
fran^aise cas, signifiant vicissitude de fortune, et le mot virorum etant entendu
dans le sens general de genre humain, ce qui fait que le titre De Casibus viro-
rum illustrium est devenu, dans le fran^ais du XV* siecle, Des Cas des nobles
hommes et femmes.)
' See Henri Hauvette, Boccace, 6tude Biographique et Litteraire, Paris,
1914, pp. 391 and 393, note. Also the chapter on Les CEuvres Latines, pp.
389, 396 and 347 ff.
' Henri Cochin, Boccace, £.tudes Italiennes, Paris, 1889, p. 122.
Introductory Note xi
blows dealt by fate to the illustrious personages of mythology
and history, and written, as the author himself said,^ with the
object of teaching princes the virtue of wisdom and modera-
tion by holding up to them the example of misfortunes pro-
voked by egotism, pride and inordinate ambition.' The form
is the familiar one of a vision or dream, the author represent-
ing himself at work in his study, while the "famous unfortu-
nates" pass before him in succession, and each tells the story
of his fall. Some are presented to Boccaccio by the goddess
Fortuna as those to whom she had at one time shown her
favour and afterwards thrown from her wheel; others enter
unannounced and clamour to be allowed to speak; and there
are several who take part in excited conversations with one
another or with the author, as in the chapters on Atreus
and Thyestes; Messalina, Tiberius and Caligula; and Brun-
hilde. Occasionally, Boccaccio himself contributes a tale by
way of illustration, and several stories are told by Fortuna;'
and the work is filled with ironical remarks on the vicious
stupidity of those to whom fate has given power over the lives
of their fellow men. The Latin book is more dramatic and of
greater literary value than either Laurence's or Lydgate's
translation. The dedicatory- epistle to Mainardo dei Caval-
canti, written in 1363,* and Boccaccio's preface were translated
by Laurence, but the former appears as such only in his first
and more literal version; and although he worked parts of it
into the preface of his second version, very little was pre-
served by Lydgate, who also omitted the long dedication by
Laurence to the Duke of Berry.
At the present day Boccaccio is known best as the earliest
and greatest master of Italian prose, as the author of charming
lyrical poems and interludes, and of the first heroic epic in
the language; he is hardly known at all as the moralist, historian
and man of science of the prose Latin works, De Genealogia
Deorum, De Claris Mulieribus, De Montibus, and De Casibus
Firorum Illustrium, all of which were compiled or written
during the latter part of his life. The history and natural
* See Boccaccio's preface, " Exquirenti mei" etc., p. xlvii. below.
' Comp. Boccaccio's preface and Hauvette, loc. cit., p. 347.
* See the beginning (first few hundred lines) of Book VI.
* See Hauvette, p. 392.
xii Introductory Note
science of the fourteenth century have Httle interest for us
now except as antiquarians; the moral and poHtical doctrines
of De Casihus are commonplace and could hardly have been
considered very remarkable even at the time they were written,
and its art, in spite of its dramatic form and the power of its
bitter satire, is not distinguished enough to hold it above the
level of the books that perish for all but a few curious stu-
dents and collectors. But from the fourteenth to the end of
the sixteenth century the case was very different. Although the
Decameron had been translated into French by Laurence in
141 1, there was no public then capable either of comprehend-
ing its historical importance or appreciating its style; and the
indelicacy of a few of its stories, no greater than that of many
other popular tales of the time, was certainly not such as to cause
any great commotion except in ecclesiastical circles, outraged
far less by indecency than by the satire of the priesthood. So
it was inevitable that, as far as his contemporaries and imme-
diate successors were concerned, Boccaccio's fame as a writer
should rest chiefly on his Latin works; and it was as a moral-
ist and man of profound learning that he was best known and
respected. To judge by the number of existing manuscripts,
the De Casibus had an exceedingly large circulation. It was
the sort of book that would especially appeal to the great
personages of the time: it told about people just like them-
selves; and although very naturally it taught them nothing —
as if the impulses and desires of men were controlled by
either precept or example — it at any rate interested them.
They were all exposed to the vicissitudes of fortune, and,
the world being then very much as it is to-day, many of them
became victims of the same disasters that had afflicted and
destroyed their predecessors;^ and it was no doubt a source
1 En plus d'une occasion, dans les deux cents annees qui ont suivi la compo-
sition de cet ouvrage, le De Casibus a pu servir de reconfort moral a des mal-
heureux. Pour ne citer qu'un exemple, nous savons qu'au XV"^ siecle le due
Charles d'Orleans, retenu prisonnier en Anglcterre, se fit envoyer pour charmer
les loisirs de sa captivite un exemplaire du traite de Boccace. — Durrieu,
loc. cit., pp. 20, 21, who refers to Leopold Delisle, Le Cabinet des manuscrits de
la Bibliotheque nationale, Paris, 1 868-1881, I. p. 106. Even in the middle of
the sixteenth century, Hieronymus Ziegler, editor and translator of the De
Casibus, an able man and no pedant, wrote, " Ich habe nie etwas gelesen was
mehr Vergnugen und Belehrung gewahrt." — Marcus Landau, Boccaccio, Stutt-
gart, 1877, p. 218.
Introductory Note xiii
of consolation to some of them, when their hour of trial came,
to read about the tribulations of others. And as many of
these great people were unable to read Latin, it is quite evident
that Laurence was certain of a large and influential public
for his translation.
Laurence,^ who took his name from the village of Premier-
fait near Arcis-sur-Aube, was clerk of the diocese of Troyes,
a competent writer in French and a Latin scholar, and in the
eyes of his contemporaries a poet and orator of distinction.
He seems to have made his living chiefly by translating, and
his first and more literal version of De Casibus was finished
on November 13, 1400, and dedicated to Duke Louis of Bour-
bon. At about this time he became a confidential advisor
and clerk to Jean Chanteprime, conseiller du roi de France.
In 1405 he translated Cicero's De Senectiite into French for
Duke Louis of Bourbon. Between 1405 and 1409 he translated
De Amicitia and completed his second version of De Casibus *
for the Duke of Berry while living in the house of Bureau de
Dammartin, tresorier de France. During the years 1411-14
he translated the Decameron, and in 141 7 Aristotle's Eco-
nomics; a version of Martin Dumiense's De quatuor virtutibus
is also attributed to him. He died in Paris in 1418, "annee
terrible de massacres, d'epidemie et de misere," and was
buried in the Cimetiere des Innocents.'
Of Laurence's first version there are but few manuscripts ^
and only two printed editions, that of Colard Mansion, Bruges,
1476, and the Lyons edition of 1483. Considering the atti-
tude of translators of his time to their originals, it is a
comparatively complete and straightforward rendering, and
^ For the above details in regard to Laurence I am indebted to A. Hortis,
Studi sulle opere latine del Boccaccio, Trieste, 1879, p. 618 fF.; Durrieu, loc.
cit., p. 19 fF. See also Hauvette, De Laureniio de Primofato (thesis), Paris,
1903, and Recbercbes sur le " De Casibus virorum illustrium" de Boccace, Paris,
1901 {Extrait du volume " Entre camarades" publie par la SociHe des anciens
ileves de la Faculte des Lettres de l' Universiu de Paris).
* Cy fine le liure de Jehan Boccace des cas des nobles hommes et femmes
translate de latin en Francois par moy laurens de premierFait clerc du diocese
de troies et Fut complie ceste translacion le XV' jour d'auril mil IIII et IX.
Cest assauoir le lundi apres pasques. — Various MSS. Some add the word
"closes" to "pasques."
' Durrieu, p. 21.
* In the British Museum, Additional 11,696 and Harley 621.
xiv Introductory Note
includes Boccaccio's dedicatory epistle to Mainardo dei Caval-
canti. In his second version Laurence enlarged his earlier
work, extending it to more than double its original length by
the addition of geographical and historical notes and explana-
tions, interpolating all manner of odd pieces of information
from the books he had read — Justin, Florus, Livy, Vincent,
Valerius Maximus and others — with the result that much of
the dramatic form and power of the original is lost. Although
he omitted Boccaccio's epistle to Mainardo, he nevertheless
used parts of it as material for his own preface, and added a
long dedication to the Duke of Berry, in which he discussed
the question of man's relation to fortune, the abuses of the
church and priesthood, the conduct of the nobility and the
condition of the agricultural labourers.^
As Durrieu points out, the work thus transformed became
for the French reader "not only a subject for moral discussions
and a suitable guidance for the restoration of courage in
adversity, but a collection of facts and anecdotes, of curious
information about countries and men, and almost a picture
in perspective of universal history from Adam and Eve up to
the middle of the fourteenth century." It was considered
to be an original work rather than a translation, and its success
was great. Copied and recopied many times during the entire
fifteenth century, it was printed in Paris by Jean du Pre in
1483, in the next year for Antoine Verard, again for Verard
(n. d., but after 1503), by Michel le Noir in 1515, by Nicolas
Couteau in 1538, and finally superseded by a new version
by Claude Witart, which appeared in 1578. Magnificent
manuscript copies^ were in the possession of the last dukes
of the house of Burgundy, from Jean sans Peur to Charles le
Temeraire, of Jacques d'Armagnac, duke of Nemours, le
Grand batard de Bourgogne, Queen Charlotte of Savoy, wife of
^ See p. liv. fF.
2 See Paulin Paris, Les Manuscrits Francois de la Bibliothique du Roi, Paris,
1836-38; Leopold Delisle, Le Cabinet des Manuscrits de la Bibliotheque Im-
periale (Nationale), Paris, 1868-81; Hortis, loc. cit., p. 933-938. The manu-
scripts of Laurence's second version in the British Museum are Royal 18.
D. VIL, Royal 20. C. IV., Royal 14. E. V., Add. 18,750 and Add. 35.321, of
which the last mentioned has been described by Sir Edward Maunde Thomp-
son in the Burlington Magazine, Vol. VIL (1905), pp. 198-210, with repro-
ductions of six half-page miniatures.
Introductory Note xv
Louis XL, Louis' sister, Jeanne de France, duchess of Bourbon,
his illegitimate daughter, Jeanne, countess of Rousillon, Jean
d' Orleans, count of Angouleme (grandfather of Francis L),
Louise of Savoy (mother of Francis L), Catherine d' Alen^on,
Henry VIL of England, and many others.^ A beautifully
illuminated codex was presented to the Duke of Berry towards
the end of 1410 by Martin de Gouges, bishop of Chartres,*
and there is a manuscript in the National Library, Munich (de-
scribed by Durrieu in the work already referred to), with many
large miniatures attributed to Jean Foucquet (141 5-1485), the
most distinguished French painter of the fifteenth century.
The Duke of Berry,' for whom Laurence translated the
De Casihus and Decameron, was bom November 30, 1340,
third son of king John IL In 1356 he was created Count
of Poitiers and made king's lieutenant in southern France,
and later on received the province of Languedoc. He sup-
pressed a revolt of the peasants with barbaric severity, col-
lected a fine of £15,000 from the states of the province, fought
against the Flemings at Rosebeke in 1382, was active in sup-
pressing the Parisian revolts, and by his bungling and pro-
crastination is said to have caused the failure of a naval expe-
dition planned against England in 1386. In 1389 Charles VI.
went to Languedoc to investigate his uncle's government,
with the result that the duke was disgraced and his agent
Betisac burnt. And although he was restored in 1401, he did
not dare show himself in the province, but delegated his author-
ity to Bernard d'Armagnac. He died in Paris, June 15, 1416,
"leaving vast treasures of jewelr\% objects of art, and especially
of illuminated MSS., many of which have been preserved." *
* Comp. Durrieu, p. 24. ' Hortis, loc. cit., p. 621.
* See L. Raynal, Histoire du Berry, Bourges, 1845.
* Encyclopedia Britannica, article on the Duke of Bern*. Hiver de Beau-
voir says in his La Librairie de Jean Due de Berry au Chateau de Mebun-sur-
Tevre, Paris, i860, p. i, "Jean, due de Berrj-, frere de Charles V, fut le prince
le plus magnifique de son temps, s'inquietant peu des moyens des qu'il s'agis-
sait de batir, et sourtout d'amasser des reliquaires et des joyaux d'eglise, pour
lesquels sa passion alia jusqu'a la manie." And in Leopold Delisle, loc. cit., I.
p. 58, we read, "On savait partout, en France et meme a I'etranger, le bonheur
que le due de Berry eprouvait a posseder des livres et la munificence avec
laquelle il recompensait les cadeaux qui lui etaient faits. Aussi s'empressait-
on de lui ofFrir des volumes dont la beaute devait flatter les plus delicat des
bibliophiles du XIV' et du XV' siecle."
xvi Introductory Note
He was fiercely satirized in Le Songe veritable, an anonymous
pamphlet of the fifteenth century, for, as Henri Moranville
tells us, in order to satisfy his expensive tastes, "le due de
Berry, dans les lieutenances royales qui lui furent confiees,
n'hesita jamais a accabler d'exactions de tous genres les popu-
lations soumises, bien malgre elles, a son autorite. Aussi la
reputation de ce prince etait-elle execrable de son temps;
on n'ignorait point ses gouts dispendieux et on les haissait,
parce qu'on en soufFrait cruellement. . . . Apres lui avoir retire
tres justement la lieutenance en Languedoc a la suite de scan-
dales financiers, oil Betisac avait paye pour son maitre, on
avait eu le tort de la lui rendre. Aussi, n'ayant plus de frein,
depensait-il enormement, ruinant le domaine, absorbant le
revenu des aides; I'argent fondait litteralement entre ses mains
et enrichissait d'indignes favoris. Froissart a raconte qu'il
s'etait pris d'une inexplicable affection pour un tailleur de
chausses; le Songe veritable parle d'un paveur. " ^
Laurence's long dedication, in which he expresses his indig-
nation aroused by the abuses of the church, the bad behaviour
of the nobility and the sufferings of the agricultural labourers,
must have had a peculiar interest for the Duke of Berry;
although it is quite probable that he read it much as it pleases
one to think that the good Duke Humphrey, who appears to
have been equally egoistic, avaricious, untrustworthy, intriguing
and dissolute, read Lydgate's gravely offered moral and polit-
ical wisdom, with serious and wholly detached interest. It
is an irony of Boccaccio's fate that the translations of his
De Casibus should have been dedicated to two such men. It
is also obvious that both the French and the English versions
differed greatly from the original, no less in spirit than in
style. As already mentioned, Boccaccio's book was not only
more dramatic and concise, but, in spite of its pretentious
and artificial manner, which was fashionable at the time, a far
more powerful and able work, the work of a great man. The
chief effect of Laurence's remarkable capacity for making in-
terpolations was only to impair the literary value of the origi-
nal, however much it may have added to its interest for con-
^ Henri Moranville, Le Songe veritable, pamphlet politique d'un parisien
du XV* siecle. In Memoires de la Societe de I'Histoire de Paris et de Vlle-de-
France, Vol. XVII. (1890), Paris, 1891, p. 227.
Introductory Note xvit
temporary readers; and Lydgate, his translator, suffering under
the same inability to let well enough alone, might have made
matters still worse had it not been for his choice of verse
instead of prose, his echoes of Chaucer, and the occasional
intrusion of his by no means unsympathetic personality. As
it is, Lydgate's version is very superior to that of Laurence
and can at least be looked upon as the work of one who,
had he written less, might have been an artist, an implica-
tion into which there was never any danger of Laurence's
falling.^
In regard to the spirit of the three authors, especially their
reaction to their environments, it can be said with reasonable
certainty that Laurence was not much of an idealist or very
distinguished intellectually: he added no original thought to
the work, except perhaps his prefaced plea for the agricul-
tural labourers, who, as we know, were so badl}' treated as to
endanger their efficiency; and if this plea was the utterance of
a kind heart, as no doubt it was, rather than an expression of
precocious utilitarianism, nevertheless his loyalty and reverence
for the great personages of the day were no less unquestioned
than his approval of the social and political system under which
they lived; and his willingness to kick the dead lions of the
past, after Boccaccio had kicked them, both dead and alive,
hardly betrayed a disposition to rashness. Still, he did not
hesitate to condemn in general terms what he considered
wrong, and took advantage of every occasion to lament the
tyranny and avarice of the feudal lords, laity and ecclesias-
tics, and the unhappy condition of the people; and although
he appears occasionally to have reproved the nobility (with-
out being too specific), his tone is moderate, supplicating,
seldom admonitory; his wish was to serve and instruct, and
he never grew weary of telling his princes that neither their
position nor their lives would be secure unless they were willing
^ "Tuttoche il Lydgate modestamente si contentasse d'essere tenuto per
traduttore del Premierfait, 11 suo lavoro puo dirsi opera originale. Egli aveva
anima da poeta, e lo manifesta gia I'ardito pensiero di tradurre in versi un'
opera di prosa. Da poeta, egli modifica, come piu gli toma, I'ordine de' capi-
toli, e allarga e rawiva il testo francese, abbastanza prosaico, che gli sta di-
nanzi. Un concetto filosofico egli abbellisce con leggiadre similitudini tolte per
lo piu da' fiori o dalle gemrae; le storie e le leggende rende piacevoli con parti-
colarita immaginose, poetiche," etc. — Hortis, p. 649.
xviii Introductory Note
to defend the people and preserve them in their well-being and
safety.^
Boccaccio studied his princes from a wholly different point
of view. They were to him objects of hostility and bitter
scorn, for whom he had neither sympathy nor respect.'^ As
he said in his dedicatory Epistle to Mainardo, there was none
living, pope, emperor, or king, to whom he cared to dedicate
his book. They made him sick.* And he believed that as a
result of their luxury, magnificence and pride, their avarice,
idleness and licentiousness, their hatred of one another and
desire for revenge, all honesty, justice and virtue were lost,
and that by the example of their superiors the people were
contaminated and led into evil customs.^ So he wrote, hoping
to bring the erring to the right path, to suppress vices, to
arouse the indolent from their slumber, and to incite all men
* Hortis, p. 627.
' Qualiter hoc faciant principes hodierni, viderit Deus. In Tyrannidem
versi sunt regii mores, et despecta impotentia subditorum: auro, gemmisque
splendere uolunt, longo seruientium ordine circumdari, palatia in excelsum
erigere, grege pellicum, et histrionum, deformi sodalicio oblectari: obscoeni-
tatibus aures complere, conuiuia in longissimam noctem deducere, ebrietati-
bus, atque ignominiosis libidinibus vacare, dies in somnos profundissimos
perdere, populos in suam salutem uiglles permanere: et bella non iure, sed
iniuria sumere, magnificum arbitrantur: consilia proborum respuere, sibi
tantiim credere: bonos deprimere, improbos extoUere: ciuitates vectigalibus
onerare, ciues torquere, in exilium agere, trucidare, & luti more calce calcare.
O scelestum malum, 0 praedonum, lurconumque, ne regum dicam, inhonesta,
& horrenda facinora. O longa, immo vecors pacientia populorum, & stolida
confidentia dominorum, si putent, dum talia peragunt, a populis sibi obsequi
cum fide. Quaeso cum videam eum, cui honorem meum, libertatem, maiesta-
tem, officium, prseeminentiam omnem concessi: cui obsequium iussus im-
pendo, cui desudo, cuius substantias meas imparcior, cuius in salutem sangui-
nem effundo meum, in extenuationem, desolationem, vituperium, & perniciem
inuigilare meam: sanguinem sitire, haurire, emungere, inhonestis fceminis,
& perditissimis quibuscunque hominibus prodige facultates (quibus susten-
tare egenos, et miserabiles debuerant) efFundere, atque disperdere: & in con-
silium niti pessimum, & pessimis operibus delectari: ac circa salutem publi-
cam segnem, torpentem, desidemque video, regem dicam? principem colam?
tamquam domino fidem seruabo? absit. Hostis est, in hunc coniurare, arma
capessere, insidias tendere, vires opponere magnanimi est, sanctissimum est,
&omnino necessarium. Cum nulla fere deo sit acceptior hostia Tyranni san-
guine: durum quippe, & importabile pro meritisiniuriam reportare. Recalci-
trent quantum libet reges, si centies negent, regnant tamen sufFragio populorum,
eorumque vires illos formidabiles faciunt. Quasi minus iuste caedibus, aut
iniuriis extenuent, suum sentient confestim diminutum imperium. — De Cas-
ibus, II. s, In Superbos, from Hieronymus Ziegler's edition, Augsburg, 1544.
> See Epistle to Mainardo. * Comp. Boccaccio's preface.
Introductory Note xix
to virtue; but unlike Laurence and Lydgate, he wrote not
for the personal advantage of the princes, for whose benefit
his translators believed their subjects existed, but for the
welfare of the community.^
Boccaccio was also responsible for an attack on women in
the eighteenth chapter of Book II., In Mulieres, which deserves
more than passing reference. We know that invectives and
satires of women were especially popular during the Middle
Ages. Stories, many of them of oriental origin, such as were
included in collections like the Disciplina Clericalis of Petrus
Alfunsi (baptised in 1106), the influence of asceticism, of
sentiments similar to those expressed in the latter part of the
third chapter of Isaiah, and of writers like the thirteenth
century Franciscan, Brother Jacopone da Todi,- whose Lauda
viii., "O femene, guardate," is still delightful to read, helped
to create an atmosphere in which Boccaccio found himself
even more at home than Guido delle Colonne, author of the
"Troy Book," had been a century earlier. For towards the
end of 1354, a few years before the De Casibus was begun, he
at the age of forty-one was most unkindly rebuffed and ridi-
culed by a young widow to whom he had been imprudent
enough to write declaring his affection. At first, as Hauvette
tells the story, he was overcome with mortification, and fancied
that he could see the passers-by pointing their fingers at him
in the street — he could even hear their smothered laughter —
for the rebuff had included personal remarks of a gross nature,
and he was grey and precociously stout; but as time went on
his mortification gave way to anger, which, according to
^ "II Boccaccio, cittadino di una libera repubblica, da lungo dimentico del
feudalistno, aveva co' propri occhi veduto il mal govemo de' principi d' allora,
e la cacciata di uno che aveva tentato di farsi tiranno in Firenze. Dallo studio
amoroso e intelligente dell'antichita latina egli aveva acquistato un modo
di pensare democratico e pagano, che s'accordava mirabilmente col suo amore
d'indipendenza. II Premierfait legge tutti gli autori, ma de' profani e classici
s'appropria le notizie, non il modo di pensare. I suoi libri erano chiesti e letti
dai principi; ma nelle opere del Boccaccio, piu spesso che panegirici, i prin-
cipi potevano leggere la propria satira." — Hortis, p. 626.
• For Brother Jacopone, see two admirable articles in the " Times Literary
Supplement" of April 15 and December 23, 1920. The Laude have been
edited by Giovanni Ferri and published by the Societd Filologica Romano,
Rome, 1910, as well as in the series Scritiori d' Italia, Bari, 1915, and there are
translations, together with the texts, of many of them in Evelyn Underbill's
"Jacopone da Todi," London, 1919.
XX Introductory Note
Hauvette, " fut tres vif, et se manifesta tout d'abord par un
immense desir de vengeance." So he sat down and wrote his
Corhaccio, an unimaginative and unpleasantly interesting book,
and was apparently still very angry when he wrote the In
Mulieres chapter.of the De Casibus, in which, returning to the
same subject, he presents us with another instructive, if one-
sided, description of the artifices employed for various purposes
by the women of fashion of his time. However, as we have
seen, he did not spare the men, nor, for that matter, did Brother
Jacopone; their blows were equitably distributed.
The attitude of Lydgate to his surroundings, and especially
to his princes, was quite different from that of either Boccac-
cio or Laurence. Although always ready to counsel and advise,
and, when he considered it necessary, to admonish, he was
never rude, like Boccaccio, nor servile, like Laurence, but wrote
throughout as a man of the world, an aristocrat and courtier,
whose contempt for the political capacity of the people was
exceeded only by Boccaccio's scorn for the political and moral
accomplishments of their sovereigns. He omitted most of
Boccaccio's censure of the clerics, which Laurence had allowed
to remain in his versions, and showed himself by his fierceness to
heretics much less tolerant in religious matters than the great
Italian. Neither foolish nor ill-bred enough to take his "manly
and wise" patron to task for his infidelities and excesses, he
nevertheless stood out firmly enough for the domestic virtues
and did not hesitate to tell princes, at least in the abstract,
to lead sober, industrious lives and to set aside their concu-
bines.^ Murder, poison, bloodthirstiness and tyranny (p. 310),
deceit (p. 323), dishonesty (p. 416), slander and hasty belief
in it (p. 126), pride (pp. 38, 170), suspicion, ingratitude (p. 655),
bad behaviour to the church (p. 278), covetousness (p. 432),
and vulgar materialism (p. 399), are among the things which
he mentions with special reprobation in his envoys.
In spite of his expressed opinion that the people were there
chiefly for the personal advantage of their rulers,* he never-
theless believed that if a man of humble origin is ordained by
God to be a king he will succeed in overcoming the resistance
of all earthly princes; ^ for nobility is by the grace of God and
' Pp. 299, 360. " Comp., for example, L 1393.
3 See the stories of Nimrod, I. 1282, and Cyrus, III. 2962.
Introductory Not£ xxi
not by blood, and poverty is no bar to royalty; nor can any-
thing good ever come of an evil stock. His attitude towards
women remains the same as it was in the "Troy Book: " some
of Boccaccio's remarks he leaves out; for others he apologises.
It must be remembered, however, that Boccaccio also qualified
his apparently sweeping assertions, and that not only the senti-
ments expressed on pages i88 and 189, but the very words, are
his as well as Lydgate's. An old and not very brilliant jest on
marriage makes its appearance apropos of the story of Orpheus;
but it evidently pleased Lydgate and his readers (the lines are
marked in approval in several MSS.), just as Dr. Thomas Lisle's
version is said to have pleased Benjamin Franklin, and, as we
have reason to believe, it pleases certain of the public to-day.^
Although Lydgate's work was much admired by his con-
temporaries and immediate successors and enjoyed at least
one hundred and fifty years of popularity, no one in more
recent times, so far as I am aware, except Thomas Gray in his
"Remarks," who was hardly enthusiastic, and Mrs. Brown-
ing, * who approved of him for other than purely aesthetic
reasons, has given him much praise as an artist. A writer who
usually contrives to spoil even his most felicitous passages
before he has done with them, who systematically pads out
his lines with stock phrases and rhyme-tags, and pours out
unending streams of verse during apparently the whole of a
very long life, cannot well be taken seriously as one of the
great poets. We search his works in vain for evidence either
of imagination or originality, of sympathetic insight into char-
acter, sensibility, delicacy of feeling or a fine instinct for form;
nor is he distinguished for more purely intellectual qualities.
On occasion he shows that he has power and rises to a
sombre dignity of manner, well seen in parts of the " Fall of
Princes"' and in the Daunce of Macbabree, and this, together
with a strain of melancholy, which was in the air at the time
and a few years later inspired Francois Villon to his finest
^ For Dr. Thomas Lisle and " The Power of Music," see " The London
Mercury," Vol. V., p. 295. For a modem instance, see the "At Random"
column of "The Observer," February 27, 1921.
*In "The Book of the Poets." Comp. Schick, p. dvii.
•See the Envoy on Rome, IL 4460, the Envoy on Ciesar, especially the
latter part, VL 2871, the Envoy on Charles of Anjou, IX. 2017, and the
Chapter and Envoy on King John of France, IX. 3134.
xxii Introductory Note
work, is perhaps his strongest point. No doubt in his day
he was highly commended for both pathos and humour; but
the latter when not unconscious is as a rule little more than
clumsy playfulness, and the former too obvious and exagger-
ated to make any deep impression on the reader (although
Thomas Gray seems to have thought highly of it)/ and neither
is sufficient to make a poet. However, considering his intel-
lectual environment, his position, and his public, he surely did
all that can reasonably be expected of him. The rude men of
action of the time were slow-witted and uneducated; even the
clerks, if we are to judge, as we must, by their literary per-
formances, were a singularly prosaic lot, and taste was evi-
dently unknown in their circles. As Gray remarked, "it is a
folly to judge of the understanding and of the patience of
those times by our own. They [the reading public] loved,
I will not say tediousness, but length and a train of circum-
stances in a narration." They got both in the "Fall of
Princes." Even Boccaccio laid aside much of his genius when
he began to write histories for the edification of the men of the
world of his day; and whatever qualities of greatness the work
possesses lie rather in the hammer blows of its subject-matter
than in the art either of the author or of his translators.
On the other hand, the " Fall of Princes" is a document of
considerable historical and philological importance. Taken
together with the original Latin and Laurence's French trans-
lation, it does indeed illumine the intellectual life of its day,*
if only faintly, for the thought reflected on the pages of both
Laurence and Lydgate is unfortunately that of a very narrow
and conservative group and cannot be considered as represen-
tative of the best minds of the time. The most that may be
said of either of them is that he was able to recognize that, in
general, men reap what they have sown.
From the philological point of view the book is of interest,
in part because we may assume that the language in which
it was written is the English of the most highly educated classes
of its period, in part because, just as in the case of the " Troy
^ Gray says that Lydgate, in the Epistle of Canace, " has touched the very
heart-springs of compassion with so masterly a hand, as to merit a place among
the greatest poets."
* Comp. Hortis, p. 654.
Introductory Note xxiii
Book," many words borrowed early in the fifteenth century
from the French make their first documented appearance on its
pages. Practically the entire literature of the " Fall of Princes "
has yet to be investigated. There is no modem edition either
of Boccaccio or of Laurence; neither the one nor the other
has been printed since the sixteenth century; no adequate
study of their sources has been published; and except for
Dr. Koeppel's short essay/ we have no account of Lydgate's
sources or of the influence of his work on succeeding writers.
The most recent edition of the " Mirror for Magistrates " is
Haslewood's of 1815.
The text of the present edition is based on MS. Bodley
263 (B), collated throughout with the British Museum MSS.
Royal 18. D. iv. (R) and Harley 1245 (H), and in part
(especially in regard to doubtful points) with MSS. Royal
18. B. xxxi. (R 3), Harley 4203 (H 5), and the Rylands-
Jersey MS. (J). Use has also been made of Sloane 4031, Add.
21,410, the Phillips-Garrett MS. in the Library of Princeton
University, and Tottel's print, which, considering the time
of its publication, is most excellent and derived from a good
manuscript. The "Envoy to Gloucester" (IX. 3303-3540),
the "Last Envoy" (IX. 3541-3588), and six stanzas missing
from the story of Lucrece (II. 1058-1099) have been supplied
from Harley 1766, a unique abridged but early MS., and one
stanza of the Villon-like "Envoy on Rome" (11. 4460 flp.)
is from Tottel, collated with the Phillips-Garrett MS.
In preparing the text for the press I have supplied capital
letters when necessar>' and punctuated according to modern
usage; but I have not noted blunders or slips of the pen
that were subsequently corrected by the original copyist
unless they are of special interest. All alterations in spelling
by the editor are noted, with one exception: the awkward
form "wordly" of the Bodley copyist, for which I have con-
sistently substituted "worldly"; and all other changes in the
text are marked by asterisks. The numerous hooks and flour-
ishes of the scribe, which, when they signify only a final e
(and often they are quite meaningless), have not as a rule
been expanded unless the e is of more than graphical sig-
nificance. For the crossed i?'s, ^'s, /'s and double /'s, I have
1 Munich, 1885.
xxiv Introductory Note
substituted plain letters, except when the horizontal stroke
actually stands for a contraction, as, for example, "Boch"
with crossed h = Bochaj, "who" and *'hy" with ^'s crossed =
whom and hyw, "makyg" with crossed k = makywg. The
crossed / is usually a contraction for a following e, as is also
the crossed double /; the latter, which is commonly used in
manuscripts of the period to represent Wes, is rarely, if at all,
employed for that purpose in B. The occasional horizontal
strokes over w's and ns and us are as a rule omitted to
avoid confusion, and expanded only when actually necessary,
as is certainly not the case in such words as Chaucer, up,
favour, or dismembred.
In the following brief survey of the contents of the " Fall
of Princes" the references are to the pages, and passages of
special interest or charm are marked with asterisks.
Book I. Prologue; * Adam and Eve, 13; Nimrod, 28;
* Against the Pride of Princes, 36; Saturn and the Process
of Time, 39; Zoroaster, Ninus, Moses, 42; Ogygus, Isis, 45;
Erysichthon, Danaus, Philomela and Procne, 49; Cadmus,
51; ^etes, Jason, Theseus, Scilla, Nisus, 60; Sisera, Deborah,
Gideon, 79; Jabin, 86; CEdipus, 87; *Atreus and Thyestes,
106; The Story of Theseus, 118; * Envoy on Hasty Credence,
126; Facetious defence of Woman accused by Bochas of
unstableness, 132; On the Suspicion and Dread of Lords,
134; Althaea and Meleager, 136; Hercules, 141 (lines 5104
fF. are excellent); Narcissus, Byblis, Myrrha, Orpheus (play-
ful lines about marriage), 156; Marpessa, Priam and Troy
Book, 166; *Against the Pride of Those who Trust in Riches,
170; * In Praise of Poverty, 172; * Samson, 179; * Chapter
on the Malice of Women, 184; Pyrrhus, son of Achilles, 190;
Canace and Macareus, 193; * The Letter of Canace, 194.
Book II. Saul, 204; On the Virtue of Obedience, 214; Reho-
boam, 216; On the Governance of Princes (analogy of human
body to body politic), 221; Mucius Scaevola, Lucrece (first
appearance), 225; Appius and Virginia, 237; Jeroboam, Zerah,
Ahab, Athaliah, 240; Dido, 253; * Satirical Envoy to Wid-
ows by Lydgate, 262; * Sardanapalus, On Virtuous Industry,
263; * Amaziah and Uzziah, Jehoash (good lines on the Cypress
and the PufF-Ball), 272; Hoshea, Sennacherib, Zedekiah, 278;
The Story of Cyrus' Youth (nobility comes by grace of God
not by blood, poverty no bar to a throne), 283; * Candaules
and Gyges, 294; Midas, Belshazzar, Envoy advising Princes
to set aside their Concubines, 296; Croesus and Cyrus, the
Introductory Note xxv
end of Cyrus, 300; Romulus and Remus, 311; * On the Abuse
of Deifying Men, 318; Metius SufFetius, 319; * Against De-
ception, Hostilius, 323; * Envoy on Rome, 325.
Book III. * Prologue; the Strife between Fortune and
Glad Poverty (tedious except for a few lighter touches), 333;
Hostilius, Ancus Marcius, Lucinio, 349; Lucrece (second
appearance), 355; * Bochas on the Immorality of Princes,
360; Cambyses, Smerdis, Oropastes, Otanes, Darius, 374;
Coriolanus, 381; Miltiades, 386; Envoy on the Fickleness
of the People; Xerxes, Leonidas, 390; * On the Vulgar Materi-
alism of Men, 399; Artabanus and Darius, 402; Phalanthus
and his Spartans, 405; Ceso Quintius, Cloelius Gracchus, 410;
* On the Tyranny of Appius, 413 ; On the Dishonesty of Judges
and The Former Age (some interesting lines), 416; * An Ex-
clamation against Dishonest Officials, 419; Alcibiades, 420;
* Exclamation on the Death of Alcibiades, 430; * On Worldly
Covetousness and Ambition, 432; * In Praise of Industrious
Men, On Poets, 434; Machaeus, Himilco, Hanno, 437; * Against
Covetous People, 447; Evagoras of C^'prus, Theo of Egypt,
Amyntas, Philip of Macedon, Epam nondas, 454; Haman and
Mordecai, Esther, 462; Artaxerxes and Cyrus, Darius, An
Envoy on Fraternal Strife, 465.
Book IV. * Prologue on Poets and Writing, 473; Marcus
Manlius, Roman Crowns and Wreaths, 479; A description of
Roman Triumphs, the Tarpeian Rock, 487; Nectanebes,
Pausanias, Heliarchus, 492; * Dionysius of Syracuse, Envoy
on Tyranny, on Princes who hold themselves Gods, 495; Poly-
crates, 500; Alexander and Callisthenes, 504; Alexander of
Epirus, 513; Darius and Alexander the Great, 517; * Envoy
on Darius, 527; On the Misery and Ruin of W'ar, the Heirs
of Alexander, Eumenes, Antigonus, 528; Envoy on Sudden
Adversity, * Queen Olympias, 536; Envoy on Murder and
Vengeance, 543; Agathocles (a crown of gold is not suitable
for the head of a knave; a crowned ass is more to dread than
a lion), 545; Envoy — ever\' creature takes after his parents'
stock, 553; Cassander, Bersane, Antipater, Peucestas, Amyn-
tas, Sandrocottus, 554; Seleucus and Antiochus, Arsinoe and
Ceraunus, * Envoy on Fortune's Variance, 562; Ceraunus
slain by the Gauls, Brennus, who had no respect for the gods,
Pyrrhus of Epirus, Aristotimus, 569; Arsinoe, wife of Magas,
and Demetrius, her daughter's husband. 582.
Book V. Bochas' Disdain of those who set all their Joy to
excel in Beauty, Spurina, * Envoy on the Fragility of Worldly
Fairness, 585; Seleucus and Antiochus, 5S8; Laodameia of
Sicily, Cleomenes, Hiero of Syracuse, Xanthippus, 592; Marcus
Regulus, 597; Ptolemy Philopator, Britomaris, 608; Syphax
and Masinissa, Hasdrubal, Scipio, 614; Nabis of Macedonia,
617; The Wars between Rome and Carthage, 619; Perseus
xxvi Introductory Note
of Sparta, the Destruction of Corinth, 621; Seleucus and
Antiochus, Laodice and the Ring and Anchor, 626; Hieronymus
of Syracuse, the Ingratitude of the Romans to the Scipios,
6^0; Philopoemen, 634; the Story of Hannibal, 638; Prusias
of Bithynia, Persa of Macedon, Azariah, Andriscus (a cur is
more impudent than a lion), Alexander Balas, 645; An Envoy
on Ingratitude; Caius and Tiberius Gracchus, Hasdrubal's
wife, Jonathan Maccabeus, Demetrius 11. , Zebina, Bituitus,
655; Ptolemy Euergetes, Jugurtha, 666.
Book VI. * Fortuna appears to Bochas; they converse to-
gether, 675; Fortuna tells Bochas about Saturninus, Marius,
Drusus, Fanaticus, Spartacus, Viriathus, Orodes and Pompey,
689; Marius and Sulla, 701; Mithridates, 711; Envoy on
Worldly Variance, Eucratides of Scythia, Orodes and Crassus,
Fymbria, Adrian of low degree, usurper of Rome, Sothimus,
Description of Thrace, 720; Pompey and the Wars with Caesar,
729; Pompey's Death, Julius Caesar, Juba, * A Digression on
Clothes, the last Scipio, Pompey's son Pompey, 743; the
Death of Caesar, Envoy on Caesar, Octavian, TuUy, 751; A
Chapter on Rhetoric and Oratory, 763; Sextus Pompey,
Antony and Cleopatra, 769.
Book VII. Antony's son, Antony, Caesarion, Julia, Agrippa,
Cassius, * Herod, Herod Antipas, 775; * The Words between
Messalina, Caligula, and Tiberius, 784; * Nero, Eleazar, Galba,
Otho, * Vitellius, 791; Bochas on The Vice of Gluttony, *A
Description of the Golden World, 806; * The Destruction of
Jerusalem, 812.
Book VIII. * Petrarch appears to Bochas, 823; the Roman
Emperors, Domitian, Commodus, Severus, Antoninus, Macri-
nus, Antoninus Aurelius, Marcus Aurelius, Maximus, Gor-
dian, the two Philips, Decius, Gallus, Volusian, ^milian, Gallien,
* Valerian, Gallienus, Quintilius, Aurelian the Dane, Probus,
Clarus, 829; Zenobia, 842; Diocletian, Carausius, Maximian,
Galerius, Maxence, Licinius, Constantine and Crispus, 844;
Constans and Constantius, Vetranio, 853; * Constantine the
Great, 856; * Julian the Apostate, On Blasphemy and Oaths,
864; Valens, Theodosius I., Hermanric, Gratian, * Theodo-
sius the Great, 870; Alaric, Radagaisus, Rufinus, Stilicho,
Heraclius, Odoacer, and * On the Conduct of Kings, 882;
"Remembre o Rome," Trasilla, Busar, Philete, Symmachus,
Boethius, 894; * King Arthur and Britain, An Exclamation
against Men who are Unkind to their Kindred, 898; Gelimer,
Amarales, Sindbal, * Queen Rosamond, 913.
Book IX. The Emperor Maurice, * Muhammad, * Brun-
hilde, 919; Heraclius and Chosroes, Constantine, son of Hera-
clius, who was murdered in a stew, Gisulf and his wife Romilda,
Justinian Temerarius, Philippicus, an odious heretic, 933;
The Covetousness and Pride of the Priesthood, Four strangely
Introductory Note xxvii
dressed kings of Lombardy; Desiderius, Pope Joan, a woman
with child, Arnulph, natural son of Carloman, made unfortu-
nate by worms and lice, 942; Bochas against the Pride of
Princes, Pope John XII., Duke Charles of Lorraine confounded
by hunger, Salamon of Hungary, Diogenes Romanus, Robert
of Normandy, Josselyn of Rages, Andronicus I. Comnenus,
Envoy on Vicious Princes, 948; the Emperor Isaac, Robert
Surrentine, Tancred, Guy de Lusignan, John of Brienne,
Henry, son of Frederick II., A Commendation of Love be-
tween Kindred, 962; Manfred of Naples, Enzio of Sardinia,
A Water that makes Thieves Blind and an Herb that makes
People Laugh themselves to Death, Frederick, son of Alphonse
of Castile, Maumetus of Persia, and Argones, 970; Charles
of Lorraine, * Envoy to Charles, Ugolino of Pisa, Aiton of
Armenia, Pope Boniface VUL, who ate his hands, 972; The
Order of Templars, A Commendation of three Philosophers
for their Patience, A Commendation of Patience, Philip the
Fair and his Sons, 979; * Dante appears to Bochas and tells
him to write the Story of Duke Gaultier, 990; * Philippa
Catanensi, Louis of Jerusalem, * King John of France, 998;
* Envoy to John of France, * A Chapter of Fortune, Envoy
to Duke Humphrey, * The Last Envoy, Words of the Trans-
lator to his Book.
THE METRE
During the years that I have been occupied with the "Fall
of Princes" the conclusion has been forced upon me more and
more that Lydgate's decasyllabic lines are far better, in the
sense of being more capably written from a purely metri-
cal point of view, than some of his modern critics, who
evidently had no proper facilities for studying his work, were
able to discover. It is most improbable that his reputation
as a poet among his contemporaries and immediate successors
would have been as great as it was had he not had a good ear
for rhythm and been a competent and, in spite of the conven-
tion of exaggerated modesty which led him to speak always
in disparagement of his ability, skilful writer of metrical Eng-
lish. Nor is it easy to believe that his introduction of variety
into what would have been otherwise an intolerably monoto-
nous flow of regular decasyllabics was not both conscious
and intentional. As Mr. Bridges has pointed out in one of
his Oxford lectures on poetry, the fundamental motive of our
pleasure in the beauty of verse "may be described as a balance
between the expected and the unexpected," that "arises from
our knowledge of the normal rhythm (the t5^pe) beneath the
varieties which the poet delights to extend and elaborate; his
skill in this sort of embroidery being to push its disguises as
far as he dare without breaking away from the type." ^ It
has also been well said by Mr. Owen Barfield,^ that the music
of poetry is "a kind of elusive discrepancy between two
rhythms. Some rigidly regular metrical form is taken, . . .
and on to this, as on an iron frame, is fitted a soft fabric
of words already woven in a rhythm of their own . . . the
rhythm of natural speech or prose. . . . The two rhythms
clash and overlap, and subtly intersect in such a way that one
^Quoted from a review in the "Times Literary Supplement," July 4, 1918.
' "The New Statesman," January 15, 1921.
xxviii
The Metre xxix
delicate, unreal echo is struck out from their jarring; and this
is the main music of poetr}'." Accent is not constant, nor
ought it to be constant, for if perfectly regular the effect of
a long passage is ruined by its monotony.
Although such principles as these may not seem readily
applicable to the art of a writer who usually manages to ruin
his long passages in a wholly different and even less creditable
manner, they are nevertheless to be considered in his case
precisely as in that of any other writer of verse.
In the introductory note to the "Troy Book " I said that no
fault could legitimately be found with the metre so long as
Lydgate paid due regard to the swing of his dominant five
beats; and I was no less unable to agree then than I am now
with the opinion that because of his so-called broken-backed
line, which can be on occasion a very fine line indeed, and
the blunders of copyists he should be considered as inferior
as a metrist as he undoubtedly was as a poet and thinker.
If we are to do justice to Lydgate's metre, it is first of all
necessary for us to know what Lydgate wrote. Even in the
oldest manuscripts many lines occur in a distorted, mutilated
form, and there are invariably some lines which appear to
be defective in all manuscripts. It would be no less unfair to
make Lydgate responsible for lines like these, than difficult,
assuming that he did write them, to decide which of the alter-
native readings should be accepted as his. Another source of
uncertainty to the present-day editor, of which I shall have
occasion to speak later on, is a result of the increasing negli-
gence of copyists during the fifteenth centur^^, not only in
regard to such small matters as final ^'s, to which they gave
no attention whatever, and various prefixes and suffixes, but
sometimes extending to the insertion or omission of articles,
conjunctions and prepositions, like the and as, or for preceding
the to of the infinitive, and the alternative use of synonyms or
parallel word-forms having an unequal number of syllables.
A further cause of trouble, which should not be forgotten,
as it has had more influence, perhaps, than anything else in giv-
ing students false notions of Lydgate's metre and incidentally
has shown how little real knowledge of his style there has been
up to within comparatively recent times, is the attribution to
him of works he did not write, such, for example, as "The
XXX The Metre
Assembly of Gods," and shorter poems, like the admirable but
metrically corrupt "London Lickpenny." ^ Nor has the
reissue of texts, which, like the Secreta Secretorum, exist only
in a few late manuscripts and are naturally far from correct,
tended to improve matters.
Unfortunately the question of Lydgate's metre is made very
complicated by difficulties of the language; for unless we have
a fair idea of the pronunciation of his time and class and a
working know^ledge of Chaucer's metrical practice, especially
his use of the final e, for the analysis of which we are so
largely indebted to Bernhard ten Brink, we cannot expect to
get very far. To read Lydgate as if his language were present-
day English, as I have actually heard some people do, or even
to try to pronounce his lines as if they were written in French
(which is somewhat closer to the mark), is impossible and
absurd. At the best our attempts to reproduce his pronun-
ciation and that of his contemporaries amount to no more
than a very rough approximation. We are certain to do a
large amount of misrepresenting and to make a good many
mistakes; and I have often wondered, were Lydgate now
alive and for once inclined to do a little correcting on his own
account, what he would think of our efforts at criticism and
interpretation and of the various opinions that have been ex-
pressed at different times by scholars in regard to his metre.
We have in the " Fall of Princes " numerous examples of all
the "types" or "forms" of the decasyllabic line used by Lyd-
gate except the somewhat doubtful type with a trisyllabic first
measure. There are the normal type of ten or eleven syllables
(A), the line with an extra syllable before the caesura (B),
lines with a syllable missing directly after the caesura (C),
with the first syllable missing (D), and with both the first
syllable and the syllable after the caesura missing (a combi-
nation of C and D). There are very few examples of the
combination of B and D described in the "Troy Book" under
the heading 5, for most of these lines can be read as normal;
and I can find no absolutely certain examples of lines with a
1 See " The Lydgate Canon " by H. N. MacCracken, Miss Hammond's
parallel text reprint in Anglia, xx., p. 400, and the text of the eight-line ver-
sion in Sir Frederick Bridge's "The Old Cryes of London," Novello & Co.,
London, 192 i.
The Metre xxxi
trisyllabic first measure: it is questionable whether there are
any such in the " Fall of Princes."
The majority of the lines are of the ordinary type A, with
ten or eleven syllables:
I. 2. The book of Bochas in Frensh to translate
I. 3. Out of Latyn, he callid was Laurence, etc., etc.
Of type B there are also many examples:
I. 29. AfForn prouydid that no presumpcioun
II. 3361. Alas I was nat auysid weel befom
II. 3458. Besouhte Bachus sum remedi to shape
III. 1660. The temple off lupiter to robbe it be rauyne (syncope
of z in lupiter)
III. 3088. This litil tragedie doth shortli heer deuise (apocope of
U in liiU)
III- 3355- Wente into exil nat ferr fro that cuntre
HI- 3553- Cam out to meete hym upon a wol fair pleyn
III. 3612. A thyng most odious to eueri comounte (synizesis of
JO in odious)
VII. 206. An hundrid fourti four thousand as I reede
IX. 2081. A thousand thre hundred acountid was the yeer (apocope
o{ ed in hundred)
Other examples are: I. 5306, II. 1018, 1848, III. 1946, 2000, 2011, 3014
3618, IV. 3127, 3961, V. 514, 2933, VI. 2353, 2953, 3347, VIII. 130, 1022
1965, 2191, 2291, IX. 3050, 3067, 3386.
Type D is of frequent occurrence:
I. I. He that whilom dede his dilligence
I. 9. Artificeres hauyng exercise
I. II. Shappis formys and newli hem deuyse (read "forrms")
I. 27. With ther colours agreable of hewe
III. 2235. Had also in cronycles as I reede (syncope of y in crony cUs)
III. 3617. How in manhod he was pereles
V. 2857. To the Romeyns any wise tobeye
Lines in which the first syllable is missing and an extra
syllable added before the caesura are comparatively rare and
difficult to identify with certainty, for most of them can be read
very well as normal. The following are probably examples:
II. 557. Stant the weelfare off eueri regeoun
II. 728. In losephus his story ye may reede
II. 933. Wher Porcenna sat in his roial see
VI. 3070. AUe assentid & sworn to Catallyne
In regard to type C, the so-called broken-backed line, it
can be said with no less certainty that it was frequently used
by Lydgate in the "Fall of Princes" — I cannot agree with Pro-
fessor Kaluza's apparent rejection of it — than that properly
xxxii The Metre
read and not lifted out of its context it is usually, although
not always, admirable, and on the whole quite as "good"
as any other line. In many cases it is a practical impossi-
bility for us to say whether we have to deal with it or with
the normal type (A), into which it can always be transformed
by the addition of a syllable at the caesura; and although I
doubt that there was ever any question in Lydgate's mind as
to what sort of line he was writing or how he intended his lines
to be scanned, we are to-day greatly handicapped by the neglect
of copyists in matters of detail (the presence or absence of a
final ^ in a manuscript usually meaning nothing at all) as well
as by our ignorance of Lydgate's pronunciation. In saying that
the use of the final <? as a metrical syllable was wholly artificial
in Lydgate's time, for the reason that it had long disappeared
from the spoken language, and that consequently it is not
impossible that, for the sake of the metre, Lydgate sometimes
added an e to words to which it did not belong etymologic-
ally,^ Professor Kaluza was no doubt in the main correct.
Only in the case of Lydgate, who although quite conscious of
his inferiority always had Chaucer's metrical practice in mind
and apparently never varied his method, the idea of time hardly
comes into consideration. As a metrlst he looked upon him-
self as one of his master's contemporaries. Final /s had crept
in through false analogy long before the fifteenth century, and
it cannot be assumed that Lydgate knew very much about
etymology; nevertheless, I believe that a careful examination of
the metre will show nothing more than an inclination on
Lydgate's part to make a somewhat fuller use of the final e
than Chaucer did, especially in the dative case, more rarely in
the accusative, and very seldom in the nominative, of nouns
of the strong declension with consonant endings. There is no
evidence whatever of an indiscriminate adding of silent /?'s.
The following examples of type C are to my mind very good
lines. Properly read, with a marked pause at the caesura, there
is no unpleasant clashing together of accented syllables. One
could as well say that the syllables clash together unpleasantly
in "That stretches and swings to the slow passionate pulse of
the sea"; or "I know a bank where the wild thyme blows."
' LiUraturblatt fur germ. Phil., 1899, pp. 373-375; 1900, p. 408.
I.
5120.
I.
5671.
II.
2795-
III.
1480.
III.
1758.
III.
2430.
III.
2497.
III.
2698.
III.
2815.
III.
2883.
III.
2972.
III.
3219.
III.
3522.
III.
3527-
III.
3555-
III.
3598-
III.
3614.
III.
4372.
III.
4459-
V.
424.
V.
2204.
The Metre xxxiii
Nor alle men may nat been iliche
And fyTiali as poetis telle
Senacherib off Assirie kyng
Ther woful fall Guido dede endite
And heerupon to be certefied
Foure thousand men Xerses thedir sente
Fledde in a boot lik a coward knyht
Bi gret auys weies he hath souht
This was theflfect pleynli in substaunce
Nor fader non by his gret errour
On hors[e]-bak thoruh ther gret swiftnesse
Amyd the se ferr out fro the stronde
Strong was the fiht or that thei wer take
And aftir that whan he cam to londe
Bothe old & yong with ful glad visages
Banyshed ageyn out of his cite
Which sufFred nat them to lyue in pes
Is seelde glad as for his partie
Is onli this thei do non excesse
Tween man and man or of wilful rage
Al desolat cried for almesse
Other good examples are: I. 4629, 5469, 5582, III. 2034, 2836, IV. 149,
1629, 1756, 2443, 3052, 3156, 3564, 3634, 3751, 3852, V. 63, 256, 588, 742,
813, iiio, 1923, 2019, 2878, 3085, VI. 1215, 1220, 1380, 1885, 2261, 6s, 2351,
2782, 3049, VII. 315, 1495, VIII. 817, 1296, 1852, 2052, 2129, 2944, 3312,
IX. 2020, 24, 2998, 3254.
In the following lines both the first syllable and a syllable
at the caesura are wanting:
I. 906. Than a man for to haiie delit
I. 1004. Which that God took with Noes Flood
rV. 860. Whereupon whan he caste his look
V. 2063. Hanybal gan his purpos holde
V. 2455. Set him up in his roiall stall
VI. 792. Spartharchus was ther cheef capteyn
VI. 914. Vnto which whan thei wer repeired
VI. 1335. Aftir that for hir gret faimesse
VI. 1796. Thei to hym 3'old[e] up the toun
VIII. 53. Lik a man hangyng in ballaunce
VIII. 515. Smet out oon of his eyen tweyne
VIII. 2723. Orcadois, Denmark and Houlond
IX. 2303. Chewed it al on pecis smale
IX. 2857. Day be day caried vitaile
On the other hand, there are many doubtful and difiicult
examples of lines of the above types. Some of them, as Pro-
fessor Kaluza and Dr. MacCracken have stated, can be easily
mended, or, as I should prefer to say, transformed, into type
A or D. It would be most undesirable to amend Lydgate
with a view to smoothing his lines for the benefit of present-
xxxiv The Metre
day readers; and whenever textual alterations are undertaken
it should naturally be done with the sole object of restoring,
so far as we are able, the text to its original state. This we
are often able to do successfully on the basis of the manuscripts;
but when there is no manuscript authority for a change, it is
best to leave things as they are unless the suggested emenda-
tion is a very simple and obvious one, as is sometimes the case;
for often manuscript authority may represent nothing more,
especially if in a late text, than the very questionable conjecture
of a copyist. The presence or absence of a final <f in a manu-
script, as I have already said, usually means nothing: we are
glad enough to take advantage of it when it is there; but the
copyists apparently did not trouble themselves about it one
way or the other, and the readers in Lydgate's day were pre-
sumably able to sound it for themselves where it was needed.
Lines like the following can easily be altered into the
regular type; and in many such cases it is quite possible that
Lydgate did originally write them in the more expanded form;
yet the majority of these lines are wholly characteristic and
require no emendation.
III. 2336. But off assent cast in your passage (casteth)
III. 2755. A myhti due callid Palantus (y-callid)
III. 3192. He callid was god of marchaundise (the god)
IV. 2367. Another thyng bookis specific (as bookis)
IV. 3654. For thei wer set Bochas doth deuise (as Bochas)
IX. 2998. And in caas verray resemblable (verraily)
Compare also III. 4787, V. 850, VI. 1362, etc.
Sometimes it is hard to say whether a line ought to be scanned
as type C or type D; for here the type depends entirely upon
whether the first syllable is emphasized or not, a matter
which the taste of the modern reader must decide in the ab-
sence of all knowledge of the niceties of speech-accent of the
fifteenth century:
I. 682. And In ther trust for they wer nat stable
II. 1616. The and thi kyn no man may socoure
II. 1617. Flessh skyn and bon houndis shal deuoure
IV. 529. He shal be set of gold bornid briht (gold probably
disyllabic)
IV. 3727. To his encres which that myhte auaille
V. 519. And wher that he in his tendre age
In many other cases where at first sight there might appear
The Metre xxxv
need for another syllable, there is actually no need for it; the
syllable is already there. And although we certainly do not
know just how Lydgate read his lines and pronounced his
words, the conjecture at any rate lies near at hand that there
was, in addition to diaeresis (as in Piroides, II. 2502; circuit,
VII. 654; deer [O. E. dior], I. 5125; boy, V. 2588; day(?) II.
3396, V. 2019; weel, IV. 1564; heeld. III. 213 1; clees, VI. 2481;
dees, V. 2700; trees, I. 540, II. 2619), an occasional resolution
of one syllable into two, either by lengthening or by the quasi-
insertion of an extra vowel-sound, especially before an r and /
and n. This is wholly consistent with the thicker and more
broken utterance which, in view of the analogous mode of
speech preserved to-day, apparently independently of dialect,
by country people in parts of England and especially of Ireland,
we may assume was prevalent in Lydgate's time and among
his class. Examples of such lengthening or vowel-insertion are:
Saul (Sauel), II. 167, etc.; foul (O. E. fugol), IV. 1742; tail
(O. E. taegl), I. 854, IX. 1467; soil, I. 746; gold, II. 3452,^
etc. (see infra); poynt, VI. 2440; reyn (O. E. regn), I. 713;
Minotaur, I. 864; tour, I. 1098, II. 1738; repeir, VI. 3201;
dispeir, VI. 2433; hair (heir), I. 5140; boor, I. 4918; boord, IV.
1332; fir (fire), I. 1417, II. 21 11 (comp. feer-brond, I. 6388).
The consonant combinations Ik and // seem to have formed
a syllable by themselves in folk (follek), I. 148, III. 148, 4051,
4425, IV. 2442, IX. 1819, 2970 (but folk, monosyllable, I. 806,
IV. 3630, V. 12), calfF, I. 6380, halff, I. 6378, mylk, IV. 1131,
and on occasion in self (him, her-self). The letter r was evi-
dently strongly rolled, or pronounced with a distinct burr,,
producing a disyllabic effect in such words as world ^ (fern, i
stem), which, however, has an organic silent e in the dative and
accusative, I. 793, 822, 6179, 6253, II. 2081, III. 3165, IV. 83;
in the strong masculines and neuters, hors, III. 1842, 52, 2556,
2979;* arm, II. 952, 1521; clerk, IV. 2663, IX. 113; werk, I.
1 1 25, 29, 39; turn, IV. 2863, VI. 584; in the French words
cours. III. 2802; court, II. 2251, III. 4785, VIII. 2945, 76, IX.
2103; and sort, I. 2725; and in first, erst, -fom and thoruh.
In k3aig, the g may have been pronounced separately as
* Comp. VI. 201, 2515, 2893 wor-eldli.
* In VI. 1369, "Vpon an hors wildere than a leoun," the a is omitted in
MSS. B and H, showing that the copyist probably said '*hor-€s," if he
pronounced the word at all.
xxxvi The Metre
a guttural following the n (see ten Brink, §120, ff), thereby
producing an additional syllable that could be sounded or
slurred at will. It is not at all probable that Lydgate added
an e ; yet the word is used in so many lines where two sylla-
bles are unquestionably required that it is difficult to believe
that it was not indeed disyllabic:
II. 1625. Off this warnyng the kyng took non heed
II. 2937. The woful fal off kyng Amazie
IV. 1800. And whan kyng Alisaundre hadde
IV. 2390. And of the kyng of Epirothes
VI. 1345. Which weddid was to kyng Tholome
VI. 1681. So that the kyng Mitridate alas
VIII. 3257. Of Gepidois how kyng Trusimounde
IX. 903. This kyng caste the damages to redresse (apocope of
the s in damages)
IX. 2792. With kyng lohn this Gaulteer lik a kniht
Other examples are: I. 5227, 5986, II. 1516, 24, 78, 2122, 2248,
2714, 3207, III. 2319, 74 2650, 2714, IV. 1552, 1863, 2340,
V. 2968, VI. 1025, IX. 708, 924, 1287. Yet several of these
are doubtful; we do not know but that Lydgate may have
had the "broken-backed" line in his mind more often than is
perhaps apparent to us now, and the following lines can be
read very well with kyng as a monosyllable: II. 1665, 4107,
III. 869, 4808, IV. 1461, 1944, 2981, V. 2409, IX. 865, 2956.
On the other hand, kyng is certainly a monosyllable in lines
III. 1705, 08, 39, 43, 2662, IV. 1315, 17, 78, VI. 1352, VIII.
2364, IX. 1285; and when it occurs at the end of a line it
rhymes with the present participle (III. 1724, 4104, V. 2438,
3028, etc.).
To deth, str. masc, an e was probably added in the dative
on occasion (pronounced dede.?); and examples of its dative use
are comparatively numerous: I. 761, 5739, II. 2325, III. 2752,
4733, 54, IV. 722, 1083, 2062, 2133, 58, 3060, 3976, V. 2124,
2251, VI. 1 163, 2550, 3618, VII. 56, VIII. 1044, 1434, 64, 1864,
2587, IX. 254. Of these lines, IV. 1083, " For of his deth no
man list compleyne," and VIII. 1044, "Of whos deth Lycynyus
was glad," can be read as type D; and IV. 2062, " That for his
deth tempted the poisoun," is a fine example of type C as it
stands. Lines VI. 2087, 2504, and VIII. 1457 are of the normal
type, requiring no e in the dative. The word occurs but seldom
in the accusative case; but in lines IV. 1957, "Tauenge my
The Metre xxxvii
deth wrouht bi gret outrage," IX. 151 5, *' Tauenge the deth[e]
of Andronicus," and IX. 2031, "His lyfF his deth[e] put in
iupartie," it may be considered to require two syllables.
In regard to feeld, str. masc, the indication is that it either
took an <r, when required, in both the dative and accusative, or
was lengthened into fe-eld. There are many examples of its
use: II. 23CX), 09, 2648, 4358, III. 2103, 4914, IV. 222, 3652,
85, V. 324, 31, 2036, VI. 1871.
Wheel, str. neuter, was certainly disyllabic (Middle English
spellings: hweol, wheol, hue3el, etc.); compare nominative case,
"Troy Book," II. 8561, and accusative, "Fall of Princes,"
V. 1 145. An e may have been added to the dative, I. 2170,
V. 2293, VI. 308, and in the "Troy Book," II. 2021; but I am
inclined to doubt it, although in my indecision I added one
in VI. 308. In lines VI. 703, 11, 2538 (dative), and IV. 2858
(accusative) it is all right as it stands.
Although lord is one of the masculines of the strong declen-
sion that sometimes takes an e in the dative in Chaucer (ten
Brink, §201), it is probable that it was also pronounced disyl-
labically lau-erd. It usually occurs in the accusative and
nominative:
I. 814. Was bi the Lord as hym list ordeyne
I. 2790. Made hir lord at hir to disdeyne
II. 1006. Also my lord bad I sholde abide
II. 1936. Hadde slayn hir lord for his gret richesse
II. 3426. Whan that his lord was be tresoun slayn
II. 4542. And to that Lord bowwe doun thi chyne
III. 1984. Ful lik a lord and a knyhtli man
VI. 1641. W'as to his lord[e] fals & eek vnkynde
VIII, 1879. Of his lord[e] be ful cruel hate
Compare also I. 6619, II. 196, VII. 1203, VIII. 881, 1674. In
line II. 1930, lord is evidently monosyllabic; in IV. 1326,
"Ageyn his lord bi an horrible crj^me," the pronunciation of
lord depends upon whether "bi an horrible" is elided or not:
if we read "banorrible," lord is disyllabic.
In kniht, the k and the n were probably sounded separately,
and the word was disyllabic (IV. 1924, VIII. 2845, 3231, IX.
642). Hed, str. neuter, was more likely pronounced heved
than hed[e] when two syllables are needed; and although I
have added an ^ in a few instances, it is rather to indicate that
the word is disyllabic than to imply that Lj-dgate thought of
xxxviii The Metre
it otherwise than as heved. It occurs as a rule in the nomi-
native and accusative:
II. 3626. The speris hed rooff hym thoruh the herte
III. 1762. Gropyng his hed[e] as he lai slepyng
IV. 3892. His hed smet ofF in the same place
VI. 1159. Lost his hed[e] & his lyfF in deede
VI. 2453. Took up the hed[e] of that prince alas
The str. neuters gold and child were also in all probability
disyllabic, go-eld and chi-eld:
II. 3452. He thouhte gold myhte hym most auaile
II. 3474. Though he of gold hadde so gret plente
II. 3790. Riche of gold perle and precious stonys
IV. 529. He shal be set of gold bornid briht
IV. 889. Of most fj'n gold shon so cleer & briht
VIII. 1269. Al of gold fret with perles fyne
IV. 3684, "Armed al in gold and with gret violence," is of
type A, with gold a monosyllable. I prefer to read VIII.
3160, "Al is nat gold that is cleer shynyng," as type A rather
than type D. In IV. 506, " Bies of gold crownes of laureer,"
we have the alternative choice of a disyllabic "gold" or a
trisyllabic " c[o]rownes." There are numerous examples of
child, which may have sometimes taken an e in the dative; we
meet with it, however, most frequently in the nominative and
accusative cases:
She and hir child fill into the se
Hath maad this child now so fortunat
Is first a child which may nat suffise
Bad that the child sholde anon be take
Whethir the child sholde lyue or deye
Kepte this child in ful secre wise
To keepe the child was nat rekeles
How that this child greene & tendre off age
The yonge child took in ther depos
Because this child tendre yong & fair
Sold hym a child which was born in Ynde
And on the child which that stood beside
But off this child whan the deth was kouth
Was with hir child[e]? seruid that was slayn
In other cases the word is to be read as a monosyllable in lines
of types A and D (I. 3192, 99, 3213, 19, 27, 31, 45, II. 1624,
3108).
Blood, birth, land, and swerd (which may have been other-
wise disyllabic, swe-erd, O. E. sweord) occasionally take an e
I.
2104.
I.
3290.
I.
3407.
I.
7037-
II.
1582.
II.
1808.
II.
3100.
II.
3103.
II.
3139-
II.
3S88.
IX.
2874.
Dative:
II.
3624.
II.
3627.
VI.
1351-
The Metre xxxix
in the dative; good (possessions) apparently requires an e
in the accusative, III. 3853. To the str. masc. gilt an e was
probably added, I. 6925, but not elsewhere (III. 2034, IV.
427, 3751); hill also seems to have required an e in the
dative (II. 4122, III. 2973, V. 2601, VI. 1612, VII. 1054).
Wal, I. 2479, II. 3510, certainly was pronounced wal[le] in
the dative and accusative, VI. 1108 and IV. 339. To knyfF,
II. 1305, 84, III. 1 147; doom, V. 875, VI. 2926; crafft, I. 6523,
41; drem (perhaps disyllabic, O. E.* dream), II. 3222, 3585,
III. 1666, apparantly no e was added. The consonant-stem
noun book, however, seems to have been sometimes disyllabic
through the addition of an inorganic e to the dative, I. 4076,
V. 366, 804, VI. 2871, IX. 177, 3070 (ace, I. 258, 423, VI. 224),
although some of these lines can be read as type D.
The French words estat, III. 534, VI. 2865, VIII. 2786;
chaung, I. 2064; assent. III. 2336, IV. 3787, V. 2000, IX.
1349, 3232; feith, IX. 1223, 28; and accord, I. 3706, II. 4117,
IX. 2218, also seem to have required an e in some instances.
So far we have been dealing with lines that require more
syllables than they apparently possess; but there are many
other lines that at first sight might be considered to have too
many syllables. It is therefore necessary to examine shortly
Lydgate's usage in slurring over and eliding syllables and
otherwise contracting his words.
There is very frequent use of elision and apocope. Of the
former the following are characteristic examples:
Lat us (Lat's), I. 938; it wer ('twer), II. 3648; Fortune is
(Fortune's), IX. 3526; There is (there's), I. 2581,4611, II. 3639,
III. 3932; He enfectith, I. 4624; He abod. III. 816; He is,
I. 6986, III. 1365; Heere is, I. 2596; She is, I. 6185; Wil is,
III. 3980; and in (=nin), VI. 2825; bi his, VI. 2633; beAmilius,
II. 3992; Bi Eneas, II. 987; be interpretacioun, VIII. 1940;
be influent, IX. 3222; be exacciouns, VIII. 2638; be occa-
sioun, IX. 350; Be Honorius, VIII. 2281; Bamaner, VI.
944; bagredi, VI. 1005; birfadres, IV. 3324; bextorsioun,
III. 3231, this (= that is) II. 4040; so infortunat, I. 3470;
so onable. III. 49; elision of the e in the before vowels and
h, I. 1370, 2388, 5848, III. 2352, V. 373, VI. 2303, 04, 3428,
VII. 1 1 20, 1400, VIII. 3261; of the o\nto,\. 5719, II. 684, 2289,
xl The Metre
IV. 3996, VI. 3267, VIII. 2056, 2205, 2394, IX. 2030; glorye
and, I. 1 1 18, II. 1073, 2108, III. 3343; miserie and, I. 968;
sclaundre and, III. 3017; childre and. III. 2007; wynter and,
III. 2204; fadir and, I. 900; childre in, VIII. 2363; fadir in,
I. 194; rekne in, VI 1745; other in, I. 2860; lettir in, I. 6344;
rancour in, II. 785; thastlabre in, I. 295; peeple in, I. 996;
Brothir of, VII. 1044; double of, VIII. 3152; double Apostata
VIII. 1483; title of, VI. 3647; slauhtre of, VIII. 223; temple
off. III. 3315; sobre of, I. 6208; enlumyned ofF, III. 666;
chartre is, V. 1873; mekil is. III. 555; writen is, V. 1476;
lauhtre on, I. 1528; Phebus on, VI. 2472; Capue he, V. 2049;
leuer he. III. 3918; togidre he, III. 4568; peeple he, II. 215;
ordre as, VIII. 2598; sugre eek, I. 4001; title had, VI. 732;
Vttre hem, VI. 298; merci or, II. 1699; gredi excesse, VI.
1425; foure dementis, VI. 3398; walkyn appeere, V. 1000;
peeple onhappi, I. 3864; furie unrestreynable. III. 4027.
Apocope is quite frequent of the endings el or le, er {ir, re),
w, we, uh, in narw, naruh, sorwe, etc., ed in hundred and the
past participle, ^ and of the es, is in plurals, especially of
French words. Examples are: bridle. III. 4608; litil, III. 3088,
IV. 2345, VIII. 421; stable. III. 1878; nouther, IV. 1035;
sobre, I. 3449; remembre, I. 3102; fostre, I. 3255; hunger, VII.
1353; mooder, I. 4811, 6185, III. 3980, IV. 151, V. 2940;
moordre, VIII. 3372; whethir, I. 4653, 4658, 59, 61; somer,
III. 2204, mydsomer, I. 3998; holuh, V. 2105; sorwe, I. 3532;
a-morwe. III. 1524, 3825; naruh. III. 208; folwe. III. 1488;
hundred, VIII. 2296, IX. 2081; fadid, VIII. 194; weddid, IV.
3968; disclaundrid, IX. 2445; delyuered. III. 3314; corages,
I. 999, 2931, (rhymes "corages: language: visage," I. 5154);
offices, I. 614; deluges, I. 1081; pillages, I. 6139, IV. 836,
VIII. 2638; pryncessis, I. 1829, 3125, II. 4230, trespacis, I.
291 1, II. 4582, V. 3109; sciences, I. 4246; facis, VIII. 3142;
ymages, II. 834, 4497, V. 1440; damages, III. 2483, IV. 639,
IX. 3023; euidencis, I. 3105; toknes, IX. 117; prouynces, III.
4867, VII. 1564, VIII. 698; richessis. III. 4240, 45, 4932, IV.
3924, VIII. 2596 (rhymes with apocopated " falsnessis, wit-
nessis," V. 1661); goddessis, VII. 837, IX. 277, (rhymes with
apocopated " witnessis, brihtnessis," IX. 282, with " heuynes-
sis," IX. 293); liknessis, IV. 17; paleisis, VI. 1296.
* See V. 3021, where "exercised " rhymes with "deuise" and "guise."
The Metre xli
SjTicope also is frequent and often indicated by contrac-
tions. It occurs in the third and second person singular end-
ings of many verbs, in the participle, in the plural of nouns
ending in es (is), and otherwise in a very large number of
words. Examples are: appallith, III. 1629; causeth, III. 4046;
gynneth. III. 4547; komth. III. 1036; lakketh, III. 2275;
makith, I. 1015, makth III. 70, maketh. III. 1628, 3235,
4209, VI. 1282; taketh, III. 533, 1235, 1625; tarageth, IV.
2930; yeueth. III. 397; holdeth, II. 531; preueth, III. 4035;
declareth, II. 3462; bryngith, I. 1414; reuersith, III. 1462;
settest, VI. 495; recurid. III. 1400; astonid, IV. 939; co-
maunded, IV. 427; namyd, I. 574; lokkid, VIII. 42.
In the plural of nouns: goddis, II. 4256, III. 3564, IV.
3708, 23,37 ; innocentis, II. 4421; personys, III. 3607; mys-
cheuys, VIII. 2626.
Other examples are: adamaunt, IV. 66; aduertjseth, I. 806;
aduersite, VI. 1262, 1687, VIII. 3259, IX. 1845; antiquite,
IX. 916; appetit, VI. 13 19, appetites, VIII. 2404; auctorite,
VI. 2242, VIII. 971, 2054, 2216, IX. 2171, 99, 2645; auisili,
VI. 3356; bestialite, IV. 2687; cardynales, IX. 1087, cardynal,
IX. 21CXD (but cardinales, IX. 1077); cathedral, VIII. 2035;
chapitle, I. 4499, VI. 1282; charite, VII. 1172, IX. 2400; cher-
isshe, I. 997, 3840, II. 3146, IV. 1372, VIII. 2366, cherysshyng,
II. 1096 (but cherisshid, III. 4794); chronycle, I. 2607; cit-
eseyns, IV. 3916; confederat, VIII. 2256; consuleris, V. 1956;
contemplatyfF, IX. 3413; corupt. III. 967 (but c6rupt, VIII.
990); countirfet, VII. 1207; countirpeis, VI. 2893; couenable,
III. 4006, VI. 618; delicat, VI. 1424; dilligentli, VII. 1324;
disconfited, I. 5291, III. 2520, VI. 2132, VIII. 1055, 251 1;
disseueraunce. III. 2814; disherited, I. 2563; dissymulyng,
IV. 1306; enheritour,'fX. 1252; enlumjned. III. 666; emperour,
VIII. 754, 1041, emperours, II. 4467, VII. 1264; felicite, I.
1834, III. 1 1 53, infelicite, I. 3168; fauourable (slurred), IV.
990; felashipe, VII. 8; flaterers, III. 3164, IX. 2712; florys-
shynges, IX. 3446; gentilesse, IV. 2702; gouemaunce, V. 1770;
gouemour, V. 1758, IX. 49; humylyte, IX. 2393; imagynatyff,
VIII. 521; importable, VIII. 1579; impossible, I. 3835, VI.
1717; indigent, III. 4324; infirmytes, VII. 1256, IX. 1087;
infortunat, IV. 3987; innocent, IX. 1493; ipocras, VII. 1282;
laboreer, VII. 1198, liberalite, IV. 3994, libertes, IX. 2608;
xlii The Metre
mageste, IV. 3127; magnificence, IX. 3602; malencolie, III.
4026; malencolik, VI. 3442; martirloge, IX. 42; mellodie, VI.
344; merciful, VIII. 1204; meryly, I, 4795; modefie, IX. 2615;
mutabilite, V. 1823, VI. 399; myneral, VII. 1216; myracle,
VIII. 1503, 1623; naked, VII. 1062; necessite, I. 4981, VII.
548; norice, III. 4278; notable, I. 1460, VI. 513, 891, 3630,
VII. 84; ocupied, VIII. 299; onchaungable, I. 1207; ordenaunce,
VIII. 933; origynal, IV. 1137; perisshed, IV. 22; pestilence,
VII. 1353; philosophie, IV. 1139, VI. 345; philisophre, VI.
1303, 3120, VII. 1223; politik, VI. 347; polyshing, III. 1040;
possible, VI. 3199; predecessours, I. 3910; prerogatifF, VI.
3377; prerogatyues, VI. 3080; promyses. III. 4252; prosperite,
I. 124, IV. 1052, 68, VIII. 2550, 2671; punysshe, II. 1241,
1327, 4380, III. 1457 (but punyshe, III. 304, 1129, 1684,
etc.); rethorik, VIII. 193; reuerence, II. 1966, IX. 2101; re-
uolucioun, VI. 189; salari, II. 3167; senatours, VI. 3104, 3226,
VII. 543, VIII. 2539 (but senatours VIII. 223); sensualite, V.
1503, VI. 3381, VIII. 2350; seuen. III. 2530, 2651, 2702, 37,
4550, IV. 113; skarmysshes, IV. 292; souereyne, V. 1172;
subtilite, V. 1609; syngulerte, III. 1280, 2258; synguler, I.
409, II. 4305, III. 2136, IV. 133, VI. 2209, 3004, 3140 (but
synguler, IV. 3623); tragedie, I. 5519, 44; trynyte, IX. 2404;
venymous, III. 4595; werreyours, VII. 1036.
Synizesis, the combination into one syllable of two vowels
that can not make a diphthong, is frequent and often accom-
panied by slurring. Mariage is as a rule of two syllables
= marage (I. 1988, 3483, 3752, II. 2121, III. 4112, 16, IV.
184, 3973> VIII. 3273, IX. 257, 63, 73, 83, 88, etc.); but we
also have mariage in three syllables (I. 3500, 5462). Other
examples are: cariage, V. 193 1; alliaunce, V. 2450 (alliaunce,
IX. 259); daliaunce, VI. 214, 3467; embassiat, V. 1545;
meriere, I. 5813; permiable, VI. 2168; rhetoricien, VI. 3454;
superfluite, VI. 2689, 3332, VII. 1307; tarieng, VI. 2737;
variaunce, VI. 2893, 3399; vertuous. III. 4383, VIII. 127, IX.
1 153, 2027, 3046 (but vertuous, VII. 399, IX. 2034).
There is synizesis of the i and 0 in the following adjectives:
compendious, VI. 3630; contrarious, IX. 529; furious, 1.
2388; gracious, IX. 3349; ungracious, VIII. 3273; victorious,
II. 204, VI. 1209, IX. 2417.
The same applies to many nouns ending in ioun: accusacioun,
The Metre xliii
V. 1658; aflFeccioun, III. 821; champiouns, IX. 2426; collu-
sioun, II. 4240, III. 1713; compassioun, III. 4812, VI. 276,
2996; composicioun, II. 766; condicioun, VI. 281; confec-
ciouns, III. 2574, IX. 2907; coniuracioun, VI. 3052; conspir-
acioun, VII. 447, VIII. 3127; constellacioun, III. 3628;
contencioun, IV. 436; desolacioun, VI. 362; deuocioun, IX.
2140; digressioun, III. 3228, V. 1776, VI. 2000 (but not in
VI. 3330); dilacioun, I. 7053; discencioun, IV. 677; discre-
cioun, I. 503, III. 4627, IV. 2329, 4032, V. 1783; divisioun,
III. 5122, VI. 2310, 2535 (but not so in lines I. 4611, VI. 358,
3329, and perhaps in IX. 511); dominacioun, VIII. 229, IX.
1507; ellocucioun, VI. 3334; entencioun, IV. 1365; execu-
cioun, IX. 2982; extorsioun, III. 3231; exacciouns, IX. 2615;
facioun, I. 5051; fundacioun, IX. 2427; generaciouns, VI.
3400; intrusioun, VIII. 2316; lamentaciouns, VI. 2384; men-
cioun, III. 4941, VIII. 1 174; obligacioun, IV. 1978; occa-
siouns, I. 4736, in sing., IV. 1013; oppressioun, VIII. 1306;
perfeccioun, IX. 798; pocessioun, VIII. 2891; presumpcioun,
IX. 939 (but four syllables, VI. 3628); professioun, VIII. 1480,
2250; pronunciacioun, VI. 3140, 3340; refecciouns, VII. 904;
religioun, IX. 2129; reuolucioun, VI. 189; subieccioun, V.
582; successioun, I. 4273, III. 2964; supplantacioun, IX.
3039; suspeccioun, III. 2728.
Synizesis also occurs in proper nouns, such as Albioun,
VI. 2882; Amphioun, VI. 3491; Scipioun, V. 1249, etc.
Hiatus is comparatively rare, but nevertheless there are a
number of cases where the final e is evidently sounded before
a succeeding vowel, as in VI. 2461, " Bi fals rauyne and extor-
sioun "; VII. 268, " The firste also who list take heede; " VII.
380, "And saide also mor for assuraunce;" VIII. 2395,
" Brothir to force auctours seyn echon "; IX. 1044, " In suich
disioynt the sayd[e] Arnold stood." There are other ex-
amples in which the words ** boost " and " steel " with dative
ending are followed by the word "armed."
In proper nouns the accent is often shifted from one syl-
lable to another; sometimes a name is shortened by apocope,
or, as we have seen above, by synizesis. Thus, Ypolitus reads
Ypolitus, I. 4488; Roboam, II. 772, Roboam, II. 792; lerusa-
lem, II. 755, 1825, 2656, 83, but lerusalem, II. 707, 1491,
2891, VII. 1458, IX. 1859, 1917, 57; Abithomarus, V. 957,
xliv The Metre
Abithomarus, V. 981, Abithomarus, V. 946; Lacedemoyn and
Lacedemoyn, III. 3362, 77, 3439, 64, etc.; Pelopia, I. 4151;
Odoacer, VIII. 2510, Odoacer, VIII. 2501; Anthjochus, V.
1523, 48, 2781, Anthiochus, V. 1590, etc.; Nabugodonosor, II.
3531; Artabanus, III. 2669, Artabanus, III. 2647, 92; Fana-
ticus, VI. 662; Tantalus, III. 3730; Diogenes, III. 4392;
Macedoyne, V. 282; Laodices, V. 1473; Aristobolus, VI. 2742,
52; Constantynople, VIII. 2222; Alcibiades and Alcibiades,
III. 3375, etc.; Tholome and Tholome, VI. 2627, 48, 52;
Artaxerxes, III. 5022, but usually Artaxerxes; lubiter and
lubiter, III. 1660, VI. 3206, VII. 385, 551, VIII. looi, 1004;
Radagasus and Radagasus, VIII. 2143, 60, 62; Cesarea, VIII.
1733, Cesarea, VIII. 1747; Phebus, VI. 2472; Alisaundre, IV.
1428, etc.; Cleopatra, VI. 2648, Cleopatra, VI, 2643; Calligula,
VII. 411, 86, Calligula, VII. 323; Antigonus, IV. 2264, Anti-
gonus, IV. 2282; Galerius, VIII. 980, Galerius, VIII. 981.
It is exceedingly doubtful whether there are any lines with
a trisyllabic first measure in the " Fall of Princes." Personally
I am inclined to believe that there are none. Lines having
the word "seven" in the second measure will hardly do, for
seven, with the second e syncopated, was a monosyllable (I.
4255, IV. 1 166, 1232). "Philisophre" was disyllabic through
syncope of the second i, which puts IV. 1303 and VI. 3120
out of court (comp. also VII. 1223 and philosophic in IV.
1 139 and VI. 345). In VIII. 1005, "In the capitoile set sothli
as he saide," the first i in "capitoile" is syncopated; the line
is regular. In the line, I. 4169, "Off the noble worthi kyng
Agamenoun," "noble" loses its second syllable through
apocope. The first i in "countirpeis," VI. 2893, is syncopated
and the r slurred (comp. countirfet, VII. 1207); and in the
only remaining questionable line of this sort that I have noted,
VI. 3104, "In the Romeyn court afFor the senatours," there
is syncope of the e in "senatours" (for further references see
senatour in list of words illustrating syncope).
There are several irregular lines, but whether the irregu-
larity is due to the author or to the copyists is often impossible
to say. Line 3480, Book III., "This was the mene that he
mente," has only four beats as it stands, and may have been,
but was probably not, so written by Lydgate. "Natwith-
stonding mor boldli that tyme atte leste " (VII. 962) has
The Metre xlv
evidently been garbled; VI. 991, "Sone of a carpenteer the
stori tellith thus," has a beat too many unless the er in
"carpenteer" is syncopated; and VII. 356, "With certeyn
dr>'nkis to cast hym in a rerage" (rhyming with age), appar-
ently has one syllable too many as it appears in the MSS.
There are many lines in which the accent is thrown on the
definite article; but whether the practice was considered ob-
jectionable I cannot say. It is at any rate very easy to read
such lines by slurring over the arsis, a practice not unknown
in the poetry of the present day. The following are examples:
I. 2172. To considre the successiouns
I. 5663. Sterte into the welle and hymseluen dre>-nt
II. 2924. Off mortal man the condicioun
III. 161 1. It is in erthe oon the moste pereilous thj-ng
IV. 513. The straunge salaire and the famous guerdoun
rV. 2846. And eclipsed the liht of his glorie
VI. 94. Othir vndir the pool Antartik
VI. 2307. Gan among Romeyns and the contagious fiht
VIII. 179. That laboure may of slouthe haue the victorie
In the following lines the accent falls on the indefinite article :
I. 959. Suffred on a crosse deth and passioun
I. 2332. The fir brast out a ful large space
VI. 3 187. In a desert and a gret wildimesse
Finally, in some cases it is preferable to read a word in a
shorter, but alternative, form to that which occurs in the
text. Thus, Lydgate probably wrote "vauntage" rather than
"auauntage" in III. 499, "It were to me no worshepe nor
auauntage"; and in several lines, "geyn" is preferable to
"ageyn." In VI. 2307 above, Lydgate may have written
"mong." The copyists did not seem to care which form they
used.
I have made the following emendations to the text without
manuscript authority; but all except one (VI. 2459) are obvious
and simple corrections of copyists' blunders and omissions:
II. 423. Natwithstanding [that] the PalestjTies
II. 1732. Till al his blood be bledyng dede raile * (The MSS.
and prints have "fayle" instead of "raile" a blun-
der evidently of an early copyist.)
III. 2906. Thei heeld hemsilff[e] verrai^ly] ashamed (The MSS.
and prints have "verrai.")
IV. 1627. And [he] hadde toward thoxidcnt
xlvi The Metre
IV. 1972. Hir * fatal wheel most dyuers & chaungable (The MSS.
have "Ther" instead of "Hir," but the wheel is
Fortuna's wheel.)
IV. 2744. With al the vicis * of pride & lecherie (The reading
in the MSS. is "spicis," "spices," "spyces," and
"spises" in Tottel.)
IV. 2791. Callid [him] hom ageyn into ther toun
V. 992. And of thes [noble] worthi princis tweyne
V. 3 141. Off this moordre[r] the hatful tirannye
VI. 2459. Which thoruh the * world yiueth so gret a soun (The
MSS. have "thoruh al the world"; and it is possible
that Lydgate so wrote the line, although he uses
"al" in the preceding line.)
VII. 1610. Of plate and maile [ther] armure was so fair
VIII. 408. To this emperour I nil * resorte ageyn (The MSS.
have "wil" instead of "nil.")
De Casxbus Ptrorum Jllustrtum
BOCCACCIO'S PREFACE TO HIS
FIRST VERSION 1
Exquirenti mlhi quid ex labore studioruw meorum possem
reipublicae vtilitatis adferre, mores hominuTn illustrium max-
ime obtulere sese obuiam: quos dum illecebres turpiqw<f libidine
foedos intuerer: effraenesque non aliter quam si fortunam in
sopnum perpetuuw soporassent haerbis aut cantato carmine:
suosqu<f principatus ferreis vncis adamantine in scopulo fir-
massent: aduerterem: Nee ob id solum caeteros pro viribus
premere: quinimmo et in ipsum rerum omnium opificem stulta
quadam temeritate consurgere cemerem: obstupui. Et dum
damnarem dementiam: longam quepii patris patientiam ad-
mirarer: Ecce in mentem incidit quod quaerebam. Quid enim
hac charitate auiditati mortalium et saluti perpetuae vtilius:
quam oberrantes si possis / in rectum tramitem reuocare ? In
quod & si hactenus eloquentissimi & sacra pietate conspicui
viri persaepe conatu maximo elaborauerunt: Non inofficiosum
existimo: si vt ipse (quamuis per viribus non sim) eos a sopore
letifero inuitarem: vigiliam excussisse tentauerim. Sane quum
tales oscenis voluptatibus adsueti difficiles animos demon-
strationibwj praestare consueuerint: & lepiditate historiarum
capi nonnunquam: exemplis agendum ratus sum. Et quid
deus sine (vt eorum more loquar) fortuna in elatos possit
describere: Et (ne in tempus aut sexum cadat obiectio) a
mundi primordio in nostrum vsque aeuuw consternatos duces:
illustresque alios tam viros quam mulieres passim disiectos:
in medium succincte deducere mens est. Absit tamen vt omnes
dixerim. Quis enim mortalium tanti foret vt infinito posset
labori sufficere ? Set ex claris quosdam clarissimos excerpsisse
sat erit, vt dum senes fluxosque principes et dei iudicio quas-
satos in solum reges viderint: dei potentiam: fragilitatem
suam: & fortunae lubricum noscant: & laetis modum ponere
discant: Et sic aliorum periculo suae possint vtilitati consu-
lere. Porro ne continua historiarum series legenti possit esse
fasti dio: morsus in vitia: & ad virtutem suasiones inseruisse
quandoque tam delectabile quam vtile arbitratus: adnectam.
Cui tam sublimi coepto ac successui is quem penes potestas
est omnis / supplex precor / sauens adsit: & in sui nominis
gloriam quod scripsisse dederit ipse conseruet.
^ From Jean Petit's edition [n.d., but after isoy^-
zlvii
BOCCACCIO'S PREFACE TO HIS SECOND VERSION '
IN CASFS VIRORVM ILLVSTRIVM WAN N IS BOCATII
DE CER'TALDO HISTORIOGRAPH I CLARISSIMI PR^FATIO
Exquirenti mihi, quid ex labore studiorum meoruw possem
forsan Reipub. utilitatis addere, occurrere pmeter creditum
multa, maiori tamen ornatu in mentem sese ingessere princi-
pum, atqwif praesidentium quorum cunqw^ obscoenae libidines,
violentiae truces, perdita otia, auaritia inexplebilis, cruenta
odia, vltiones armatae, praecipitesq7<(?, & longe plura scelesta
facinora. Quae cum ductu caelestium viderem in illo coercito
freno euolantia undiqw^, inde honestatem omnem foedari
publicam, iustitiae sacratissimas leges solui, labefactari uirtutes
omnes, & quod infandum est, detestandis exemplis, in mores
impios ignar^ae multitudinis ingenia trahi. Ratus eo me a
fortuna deductuw, quo appetebat intentio: festinus arripui
calamum scripturus in tales. Nam quid satius est, quam
uires omnes exponere, ut in frugem melioris uitae retrahantur
errantes, a desidibus sopitis letalis somnus excutiatur, uitia
reprimantur, & extollantur virtutes. Nee me terruit maiorum
nostrorum in hos ingentia vidisse volumina, & ilia nouisse
styli suauitate, & pondere sententiarum meis literulis praepo-
nenda: plurimum eum meminerim, nonnunqw^ rudem notulam
excitasse nonnuUos, quos tonitrua mouisse non poterant. Bona
igitur pace talium, quo impellit dicendi impetus tendaw: si
forsan saxea haec corda, tenui spiritu oris mei, in salutem
meam mollire saltem paululum queam. Sane cum tales ob-
stent, sueti voluptatibus animos difficiles demonstrationibus
praestare consuerint, & lepiditate Historiarum capi nonnunqw^,
exemplis agendum ratus sum eis, quid Deus omnipotens, seu,
ut eorum loquar more, fortuna in elatos possit, & fecerit. Et
ne in tempus, aut sexuw cadat abiectio, a mundi primordio,
in nostrum usque aeuum consternatos duces, illustresqw^ alios,
tam uiros, quawi mulieres passim deiectos, in medium suc-
cincte deducere mens est. Absit tamen ut omnes dixerim.
Quis enim mortalium tanti foret ? ut infinito labori possit
sufficere ? Sed ex claris quosdam clariores excerpsisse satis
erit. Vt dum segnes, fluxosq?^^ principes, & Dei iudicio quas-
satos in solum, reges viderint, Dei potentiam, fragilitatem suam,
& fortun^e lubricuw noscant: & laetis modum ponere discant,
ut aliorum periculo suae possint vtilitati consulere. Porro ne
continua historiarum series legenti possit fastidium aliquod
inferre, morsus in vitia, et ad virtutem suasiones inseruisse
quandoqw^, tam delectabile, quam utile arbitratus annectam.
Cui tam audaci ceptui, & successui, eum quem penes maiestas
est omnis supprecor, fauens adsit, & in sui nominis gloriam,
quod scripsisse dederit, ipse conseruet.
^ From Ziegler's edition, Augsburg, 1544.
xlviii
BOCCACCIO'S LETTER TO MAINARDO^
JOANNES BOCATIFS DE CERTALDO HISTORIOGRAPHUS,
MACHINARDO EX CLARA CAUALCASTIUM
FAMILIA FIRO CLARISSIMO
Div strenve miles emvnctum ex ingenio meo opusculum,
in quo virorum Illustrium tractantur casus, & ut plurimum
infelices exitus, me penes ociosum fuit. Non enim satis mecum
conueniebam, cui nam primo illud mittere uellem, ut nomini
suo aliquid adferret omatus: & eiusdem adiutus subsidijs,
melioribus quam meis auspicijs prodiret in medium. Cupimus
enim omnes, quadam vmbratili impulsi gloria, quibus auxilijs
possumus, fragiles labores nostros nobilitare, & diuturniores
facere: & scriptores potissime. Et inter alia, quasi multum
illis splendoris consequuturum sit, Pontifici, seu Caesari, aut
Regi, uel alicui principi maximo titulamus eosdem. Quamo-
brem longa indagine mentis quaesiui, quem ex multis unum
eligerem: & ante alios praepollentes mecum euoluere coepi
Pontifices, quorum vetus sanctitas, iamdudum plures, pia
afFectione, libellos claros reddiderat. Sane dum modemos,
ex veteribus exorbitantes, (qui lachn'^mis, & orationibus in
aduersantes deuotioni eorum, uirtutes coelorum mouere con-
sueuerant) vidi ex sacerdotalibus infulis galeas, ex pastoralibus
baculis lanceas, ex sacris uestibus loricas, in quietem, et lib-
ertatem innocentium conflate: ambire Martialia castra, in-
cendijs, violentijs, Christiano sanguine fuso laetari: satagen-
tesqu^ aduersus veritatis verbum dicentis, Regnum meum non
est de hoc mundo, orbis imperium occupare, horrui, retraxiqu^
pedem: ratus apud huiusmodi ludibrium potius opusculum
meum futurum, quam ob aliquod eius meritum preciosum:
& ab ijs frustratus, in hodiemum Caesarem aciem mentis de-
flexi, Sed confestim reuocaui consilium, sentiens eum mag-
nalium suorum immemorem, praeponentemqu<f Thebani Bacchi
uina colentis gloriam, splendoribus Martis Italici, nee non
torpentem sub Circio in extremo orbis angulo, inter niues, &
pocula. Sed quid tandem? subiere pectus anxium, qui notis
insigniti regijs, reges haberi uolunt, cum phalerati sint ona-
gri: & ij potissime, qui hac tempestate praesident regnis. Oc-
curritqw^r primus Gallus Sicamber, qui se temerario ausu genere,
& moribus praeferre caeteris audet: & cui primates monstrauere
sui, nedum philosophari turpissimum fore Regi, uerem liter-
arum nouisse caracteres, detrimentum Regiae Maiestatis
permaximum signari. Qui sic sapiunt, damnantes in Regibus,
quod bellicosos reddit egregios. Inde Hispani, seu Barbari,
& eflTeraces hoies affuere. Post & Seuerus Britannus, elatus
nouis successibus. Sic et Pannonius Bilinguis populi multi-
^ From Ziegler's edition,
xlix
1 Boccaccio's Letter to Mainardo del Cavalcanti
tudine potius quam virtute valens. Postremo mollis, & efFoem-
inatus Siculus. Quorum omnium dum mores, & vitam segre-
gatim intueor, ne per eorum discurram luxum, & inertiam,
rectius regum simulachra, quam reges uisi sunt, Quadpropter
nausea quadam vexatus (ne in fabulam deducerem, quod
cupiebam extollere) ab indagine destiti: & quasi decreueraw
illud fortunae manibus cowmittere, et fere iam emissurus eram,
dum illi misertus Deus, in laudabile consilium incidi. Nemini
scilicet quamtumcumqw^ eminenti, ztque praefulgido principi
posse quiddaw fidentius quam amico committi: etiamsi extre-
mae fortis homo sit. Quod iampridem persaepe legimus illustres
fecisse uiros. Et cum tali gratularer animaduertentiae, & ecce
quasi tu missus in mentem uenisti, Tum ego mecum, quid
inter syluestres beluas rugientes potius quam loquentes, mag-
istr<3e rerum philosophise hostes quaeris, quod in sinu tuo opta-
tissimum tenes, quod in oculis tuis assidue est, quod te coram
semper obambulat? Nonne uides Machinardum tuum? tua
iamdiu approbatum sententia: cuius fidem, dilectionew, cuius
munificentiam saepe expertus es. Quem ergo aluim quaeris?
Nonne insuper huic sacra affinitate iunctus es? Secum si
meminit, vnici filij eius communis pater es. Illi enim dedit
ipse naturali lege ut esset, cum paracleto operante spiritu,
ut bene esset dedisti, dum ilium ex sacri fontis lauacro sus-
cepisti, Praeterea is, esto, plene philosophicis eruditus non
sit, amantissimus tamen studiorum est, & probatorum homi-
num praecipuus cultor, atque eorum operum solertissimus
indagator. Nee est, quod tu summopere uitare uidebaris,
vnus ex mercenaria plebe, aut inglorius, & degener homo,
regia enim militia insignitus est, & egregie splendido titulo:
& ex Caualcantibus clara ciuitatis nostrae familia genitus. Ab
auorum fulgore non deuiat, quinimo singulare decus, & pricae vir-
tutis specimen, nomen suum, & patriam laudabili fulgore red-
dit illustrem. Quid multa dixerim? a deo in sententiam banc
venisse placuit, ut quanto magis mecum ista reuoluerem, tanto
arctius roboraretur consilium, et firmius infigeretur animo. Tuo
igitur, amantissime mi, dummodo pauperis amici munusculum
now renuas, honorando semper nomini dico, quod paulo ante
Regali insigniri cupiebam. Suscipe illud liberali animo, si quid
sanctum amicitiae nomen, iamdiu inter te, & me aequo firmatum
animo meretur. Quaeso susceptum, dum per honestum ocium
poteris legas, non equidem legisse penitebit, si satis ingenium
tuum noui. Et inter legendum non pigeat minus decenter
se habentia emendasse. Et dum uidebitur, post hoc, inter
amicos communes, & postremo tuo nomine emittas in publi-
cum, ut ipse pro viribus celebre nomen tuum, meumqw<f aliquali
fulgore, per ora uirorum discurrens, illustres. Vale.
2De« Ca« SDes JI3obIe« i^ommes
et iFemmes
LAURENCE'S TRANSLATION OF BOCCACCIO'S
PREFACE 1
[fiir war retaitud in Laurence's second version.^
Cest la translacion du prologue lehan boccace ou liure des
cas des nobles hommes & femmes maleureux, commencant en
latin: Exquirenti michi quid ex labore, & cetera. [^ Et enuoie
son liure a vng sien compere cheualier appelle messire maguard
des cheualchans de florence Senechal de Scicile ainsi comme
II appart par vne epistre surce (aicte par le dit Boccace en
la quele II blasme et reprent ouuertement et a cause tous
les princes crestiens.]^
Qvant le enqw^roye quel proufiit le peusse faire a la chose
publique par le labeur de mon estude, le tournay mon engin
a considerer les maintiens & les meurs des nobles hommes
& femmes qui principallement se presenterent deuant les yuelx
de mon entendement, & quant le les apperceu ordoyez en vains
delictz & en plaisirs deshonnestes, le consideray Iceulx estre
desroyes & sans fraing, ainsy comme se [ilz eussent endormie
fortune par herbes ou par enchantemens ou ainsi comme se]'
Ilz eussent fermees leurs seignouries a croz de fer a roche day-
mant. Et pource que ilz cuydoient leurs seignouries estre
fermes & p<rrdurables, Ilz par leurs forces submarchoient
non pas seullement les autres moindres hommes, mais le les
regardoye enorgueillir & rebeller comme folz & oultrageux *
contre dieu, le faiseur de toutes choses, dont le me esmerueillay;
& quant le condamnoie lenragee folie de ces nobles hommes
& femmes, & le conme esbahy consideroye la longue pacience
de dieu, le pere debonnaire, celle chose me vint en courage
que le querroie. Certes le dis en mon cueur aucune chose
nest pas plus prouffitable ne plus charitable a la communaulte
des hommes & au salut pardurable, que de rappeller au droit
chemin ceulx qui sont desuoyez se le puis, auquel rauoyement
combien que aulcuns hommes bien enlangagiez * & nobles
^ From du Pre's edition, 1483, with corrections and additions from MSS.
Royal 18. D. VII. and Royal 20. C. IV.
« From MS. Royal 18. D. VII. ' From the two Royal MSS.
* oultrageiaj orgueilleux, du Pre. ^ enlangagiez]] alangagez, du Pre.
li
Hi Laurence's Prologue
par aucuwes sainctes & doulces paroUes y ayent traueille lusques
cy, toutesfois le pense que cest chose prouffitable se le me essaye
oster telz hommes du somme qui est semblable a la mort &
a les reueillier pour vitement ouurer, combien que le ne soye
mie pareil aux anciens historiens. Et certain est que cowme
telz hommes desuoiez soient accoustumez de ensuiuir ordes
delectacions, Ilz acoustumeront a grant peine leurs couraiges
a ouyr les clers enseignemens de vertu, mais puis que Ilz ont
acoustuwe de voulentiers ouyr la doulceur des histoires lay
pense en mon cueur de demener mon pr^fsewt liure aulcunes-
fois par exemples, & de escrire quelle puissance ait dieu contre
les orgueilleux qui appellent dieu fortune. Et affin que len
ne doubte de quel temps ou de quelles pi?rsonnes nous traic-
tons en ce liure, nous respondons que des le commencement du
monde lusques a nostre temps nous voulons briefment de-
mener & descrire en appert les fortunes & les cas daulcuns roys,
ducz & C^e]] autres nobles hommes & femmes lesquelz fortune
communement a abbaissiez ^ de leurs haultains esta[t]s, & si
ne dis pas que le escripue de tous roys, ducz & autres nobles
[hommes], car II nest aucun engin si grant qui souffisist a si
grant labeur & peine, mais des nobles hommes & femmes II
me souffist prendre aulcuws des plus nobles affin que quant
les howmes verront par escript les princes du monde estre febles
& vains, & les roys ^exus & quotis lusques a [la]] terre par le
lugement de dieu, Ilz ayent congnoissance de la puissance
diuine & de la feblesse et muablete de lestat de fortune, &
que Ilz ayent mesure & attemprance^ entre les bieneuretez
mondaines. Et affin que per le peril la aduenu aux autres
Ilz puissent pourueoir a leur mesme prouffit, & aussy affin
que par continuel racomptement des histoires le ne face ennuy
a celuy que ce liure lira: lay determine tant pour prouffit
comme pour delectacion de reprendre & blasmer les vices des
personnes & de semer^ & mettre en aulcuns chapitres admon-
nestemens pour viure selon vertus, auquel hault commence-
ment & pour suite le prie humblement celuy enuers qui est
toute puissance quil me vueille estre fauorable & que II garde
& deffende ce que II me ottroiera escrire a la gloire de son nom.
LAURENCE'S PROLOGUE ^
Le prologue du translateur.
Selon raison et bonnes meurs lowme soy excercant en aulcune
science speculatiue ou aultre, peut honnestement muer son
conseil [ou propos] de bien en mieulx attendue la mutacion
des choses, des temps, & des lieux, & aussi peut vng potier
1 abbaissiez] abessez, du Pre. ^ attrempance, du Pre. * finer, du Pre.
* From du Pre's edition. This is the preface to the second version.
Laurence's Prologue liii
casser & rompre aulcun sien vaissel combien quil solt bien
fait, pour lui donner autre forme qui luy semble meilleure.
Et ceste licence de muer la chose en mieulx nest pas donnee
a lowme pour seullement amender ou corrigier sa propre oeuure,
ains mesmement est a chascun donnee pour ce faire en la be-
songne dautruy, mais que on le face par bonte de couraige
& par mouuement de pure ^ charite qui en soy ne contient
enuye ne arrogance. Comme doncques la pieca le laurens
de premier fait a lenhortement & requeste daulcuns euz trans-
late de latin en francois le moins mal qu<f le peuz vng tresno-
table & exquis liure de lehan boccace, des cas des nobles homme-
& femmes, en la translation du quel lay ensuyui precisement
& au luste les sentences prinses du propre langaige de lacteur,
qui est moult subtil & artificiel, & II soit vray que mesmes
aulcuns de ceulx qui se dient clers & hommes lettrez seufFrent
en eulx tresgrant dommage dignorance qui leur aduient par
defFaulte de trois sciences, qui enseignent droictement, vraye-
ment, & bellement parler, cestassauvoir grawmaire, logiqw(f,
& rethorique, parquoy II aduient (\ue les liures latins ditez
& escritz par les philosophes, poetes, & historiens bien en-
seignez en toutes sciences humaines sont moult loing & des-
seruez de lentendement que dame nature donne communement
aux hommes, [et|] pource doncques [jsecourir a ce tres grant
default il] conuient se me semble, que les liures latins en leurs
trenslacions soient muez & conuertis en tel lengaige que les
liseurs & escouteurs diceulx puissent comprendre lefFect de
la sentence sans trop grant & trop long trauail de entende-
ment. le doncques selon le lugement* commun en amendant,
se le puis, la premiere translacion du dit liure vueil sans riens
condawner autre ^ fois translater le dit liure. Affin cest as-
sauoir que de tant quil sera plus cler & plus ouuert en sentences
& en parolles, de tant II delectera a lire & a escouter plusieurs
hommes & fenrmes. Et par ce moyen auec laide de la grace
diuine apr<fs quilz congnoistront plus a plain la miserable
condicion & le tourment & le muable estat des choses de fortune,
Ilz les reputeront moins, ains les despriseront de tant plus &
estimeront les choses diuines & celestes qui ont vraye seurete
& loye pardurable. Et certain est que entre tous autres vol-
umes escriptz par a[u]cteurs historiens, ce present liure parlant
des doulces & ameres fortunes des nobles hommes & femmes
est de tressingulier prix & de noble exemple de vertus, car II
fait presque mencion ou en long ou en brief des histoires de
tous ceulx & celles qui depuis le commencement du monde
1 de pure charite, Royal i8. D. VII. and Royal 20. C. IV. Du Pre has
"de oeuure de charite."
' le lugement] lentendement, du Pre.
* autre] vne autre, du Pre.
liv Laurence's Dedication to the Duke of Berry
lusques a lehaw roy de France, mort prisonnier en angleterre,
ont eu puissances, richesses, dignitez, honneurs, & delectacions
mondaines, car fortune a de coustume de abatre lus & de froisser
presque tous ceulx quelle a esleue au plus hault degre de sa roe;
& par ainsy ce liure moult estroit & brief en parolles est entre
tous Qes^ autres liures le plus ample & le plus long a le droit
expliquer par sentences ramenables aux histoires, en faisant
done ceste beso[i]ngne longue, & espandue & recueillie de diuers
historiens par le moyen de la grace diuine. le vueil [[princi-
palment moy ficher] en deux choses cest assauoir mettre en
cler langaige les sentences du liure, & les histoires qui par
laucteur ^ sont si briefment toucheez que II nen met fors
seulement les noms. le les assouuiray selon la verite des vieilz ^
historiens qui au long les escriuirewt. Et si ne vueil pas dire
que lehan boccace, a[u]cteur de ce liure, qui en son temps fut
tresgrant & renomme historien, ait delaisse les dictes histoires
par Ignorance de les non auoir scenes, ou par orgueil de les
non daignier escripre, car II les auoit si propices a la main &
si ficheez en memoire, que II les reputa communes & cogneues
aux autres comme a soy. Affin doncqw^s que le liure ait toutes
ses parties et soit cowplet en soy, le les mettray briefmCnt
sans delaisser que trespou le texte de lacteur. Si prie dieu '
que a ceste oeuure commencer, moyenner & finer, me vueille
donner faueur & ayde. Et si requier les hommes que benigne-
ment me suportent & excusent en moy donnant pardon des
choses moins bien faictes ou dictes.
LAURENCE'S DEDICATION TO THE DUKE
OF BERRY*
[_Th{s appears only in Laurence's second version."}
A Puissant noble et excellent prince lehan filz de Roy de
france, due de berry et dauguerne, Conte de poitou, destampes
de boulongne & dauuergne, Laurens de premierfait, clerc et
vostre mains digne secretaire et serf de bonne foy, toute obe-
dience et subieccion deue comme a mon tresredoubte seigneur
et bienfaicteur, et agreablement recepuoir le labour de mon
estude et benignement excuser la petitesse de mon engin au
resgart de la grant besoigne de vostre commandement par
moy ia pieca entreprise et nouuelement finee. ^ Combien
que par vostre espicial mandement Je aye soubz la confiance de
vostre naturele benignite et en espoir de uostre gracieux aide
^ laucteur] les acteurs, du Pre.
^ vieilz] haulx, du Pre. ' dieu] a dieu, du Pre.
4 From MS. Royal i8. D. VII. (R), fol. z,ff., with a few corrections from
MSS. Royal 20. C. IV. (R 2) and Add. 18,750 (Add.)
Laurence's Dedication to the Duke of Berry Iv
et confort entrepris le dongereux et long trauail de la trans-
lacion de vng tresexquis et singulier volume, des cas des nobles
hommes et femmes escript et compile par lehan bocacce de
Certald, ladis homme moult excellent et expert en anciannes
hystoires et toutes aultres sciences humaines et diuines. Neant-
moins pour lexcellence de celle ancienne Royale lignie dont
vous prenes naissance, et aussi de la noblesse de voz meurs
et uertus qui a bon droit desseruent pardurable beneurete
enuers dieu, et enuers les hommes louenge et renomnee. ^ la
long temps a que en obeissant a voz commandemens le toumai
mon couraige, a Iceulx acomplir ainsi comme le doy. Cest
asauoir a translater en langaige franco3's le volume dessuj
dit, contenant en latin neuf liures particuliers racomptans ou
en long ou en brief les malheureux cas des nobles hommes et
femmes qui depuis adam et eue, les premiers de tous hommes
monterent ou hault degre de la Roe de fortune, iusques au
temps de tres excellent et noble prince lehan, le premier de
ce nom, vostre tr^s loyal pere, ladiz Roy des francoys, du
quel le cas tresbriefment raconte, fait la fin de ce present volume.
Et pource doncques que ce present liure est intitule des cas
des nobles hommes et femmes, et que les cas semblent auoir
dependence et cause efl&cient de par fortune, ie veuil premiere-
ment et en brief selon mon aduiz yci dire la cause pour quoi
toutes les dignites et honneurs, richesses, puissances et glo[i]re
mondaines ^ samblent estre et soient subiectes a fortune, qui
tousdiz toume sa Roe en transmuant les choses de ce monde.
Et apres ie diray vne prouuable maniere par quoy chascuin
homme et femme puissent eulx afFranchir et exempter des
cas et des trebuschetz de fortune.
^ Pour quoy choses mondaines sent subiectes a fortune.
fl Pour declarer donques la premiere de ces deulx choses:
Sauoir affiert que au commancement homme et femme furent
de dieu creez auecques entiere beneurete et telement parfaiz
tant en corps comme en ame, que neiz les sages croient que
adam et eue, parens de tout humain lignaige, estoient immortelz
et impassibles se il[z] eussent bien gardee celle saincte et seule
loy que dieu leur ot donnee ou paradis de delices. Maiz pour
ce que contre eulx maismes esquelz estoit toute humaine nature.
Ilz getterent vng hazart par lequel ilz perdirent les princi-
paulx doarres- tant de corps comme de ame. Q Lenfrainte
et le comptent ' de celle seule loy entre les innumerables maulx
et infinis dogmages en engendra vng tres grief, par quoi toute
hu[m]aine creature * deuint subiecte a fortune et a sa moquerie.
Car deslors dieu soufFri que les choses du monde qui atous
estoient pareillement communes de uindrent propres selonc
* mondaine Add., R 2. * contempt R 2.
* douaires R 2, Add. * nature R 2, Add.
Ivi Laurence's Dedication to the Duke of Berry
la couuoltise de celui qui par violence et force les occupoit
pour soy. Et pource que tous les couraiges des hommes au
regart de leur premier conmencement sont tous semblables,
lun couuoita celle mesme chose que lautre occupoit. Maiz
pource que deulx ne peuent ensemble possider vne mesme
chose, II a couuenu que lun dechiee de son desir. Et celui
qui obtient ce que il desiroit sewble estre iuchiez ^ ou hault
degre de la roe de fortune, qui comme chamberi(?re de dieu
pour la punicion de leurs pechies, vne foiz haulse et autre
foiz abaisse hommes et femmes saws discreccion ne aduiz et
non pas selon la quawtite des merites des hommes. Maiz p<3r
vne confuse maniere dont les causes sont euidens a dieu. Maiz
les hommes comme ignorans de lordrenance diuine ne peuent
congnoistre telles causes. Quant donqw<fz lomme par quel-
conque moien monte du bas estat ou hault on lappelle beneureux,
Et le descendement on le appelle ou cas ou malheurte puis
que celui qui descent sefforce au contraire et que cest maulgre
soy. Par quoy cestui liure est apelle des cas des nobles hommes
et fenmes. ^ Et comme donques iuste punicion ait este cause
par quoi les howmes et les biens de ce monde furent et sont
soubzmiz a fortune et a sa moquerie, en tant que les estatz
de toutes choses mondaines sont enfermes et soubdainement
muables, et en espicial des haultes choses trop plus que des
moyennes. En la punicion des deulx premiers parens qui
orguilleusement enfraingnirent la loy a eulx donnee, la iustice
de dieu fut estroitement et droictement gardee parce que
tous participent la moquerie de fortune qui se loue en esleuant
et en trebuchant les hommes. Car puis ^ que adam & eue
mistrent en rafle toute la bienheurte huwaine en cuidant icelle
agrandir et en desobeissant Il[z] perdirent leur chance, Ilz
deslierent a tous le malheur que auoit atachie dieu a vne forte
coulompne et soubmistrent eulx et toute leur succession aus
tournoiemens de la roe de fortune et a ses trebuchetz. Il[zl
ouurirent les portes a tous pechies. Il[z] dechacierent de ce
monde les uertus et geterent en terre la semence de tous vices
que Jamais neussent este nommez ne congneuz entre hommes.
Et ainsi comme toute nature humaine estoit a done en deux,
adam et eue, qui par leur franc arbitre hazarderent toute
leur beneinete,' aussi nous tous descendus deulx sommes par
droit compaignons de celle perte. Car se il[z] eussent gaigne
et actaint la chose aquoy il[z] tendoient, chascun en voulsist
estre compaignon et parsonnier. Aulcuns par aduenture ses-
bahissent powr quoy tant de nobles hommes et femmes cy
apres racontes chayrent si miserablem<fnt du tres hault au tres
bas. Et mesmement alain le pouete se complaint, pource
que les iniustes et mauues hommes sont tres souuent esleues
* enchiez Add. ' deputs Add., R 2. • bienheurte R 2.
Laurence's Dedication to the Duke of Berry Ivii
aux tres haulx estatz du monde. Et a ces deulx pointz, Alain
respont vraiement et embrief, Cest assauoir, que fortune les
esleua en hault afin quil[z] descendissent par plus grief trebuchet
qui les desrompe & froisse selon la pesanteur de leurs iniquites;
puis donquez que iay briefment monstre que les cinq dons de
fortune qui contiennent tous les biens mondains et transsitoires
sont droittement par ordrenance diuine soubzmis a fortune
et a sa moqw^rie. le vueil monstrer cleres voyes et manieres
par les queles tant hommes comme femmes puissent eulx et
leurs choses exempter et affranchir des cas et de trebuchetz
de fortune.
Comment lomme affranchist soy et ses choses de fortune.
Et pource que ceste matere est dongereuse et obscure enuers
aulcuns, premierement ie suppose pour uray que se les biens
de aulcun Homme ne lui semblent tres grans et tres larges
il est meschant et poure combien que il feust seigneur de tout
le monde. Et celui est Homme malHeureux et poure qui selon
sa droicte conscience ne iuge soy estre bienHeureux, la soit
ce que tout le monde feust soubz sa seignorie. Et cellui nest
beneureux ne parfait qui par son propre lugement ne le cuide
estre, Et riens ne vault se aulcun repute soy beneureux qui est
plain de ricHesses, se il vit et ait uescu desHonnestement et mal,
et celui na en soy aulcune felicite qui est seigneur de maintes
cHoses, Maiz il est serf de plusieurs. ^ Ces cinq cHoses dessus
dictes ne cheent lamaiz en Homme sage. Se donques Homme
veult soy affrancher et exempter de malHeur II lui conuient
auoir la uertu de sapience qui en soy seule contient tous biens
sans commixcion de mal. ^ Le sage Homme est en soy si par-
fait et si bienHeureux que neiz pour bien viure II na besoing
lamy.^ Le sage nest point subget a fortune, comme Seneque
le preuue par vne exemple de demetrius ancian Roy de Surie,
qui par tirannie occupa main[t]s pays et ardi maintes Cites
de partHie et de oriant. En lune des cites de partHie estoit
adonc vng moult sage pHilo[so]pHe nomme Stilbon, qui auoit
femme, enfans, possessions et aultres RicHesses temporelles.
Toutes ses cHoses furent arses, perdues & degastees par le
tirant Demetrius et ses gens. Maiz Stilbon tout seul escHapa
bienHeureux. Or aduint que demetrius lui demanda sil auoit
perdu aulcunes siennes choses, et il vraiement et sagement
respondi, quil nauoit riens perdu, aincois dist: tous mes biens
sont auesques moy. La responce de Stilbon fist doubteux le
tirant en tant que II cuida que stilbon leust vaincu, pour ce
que il dist toutes mes cHoses demeurent auecques moy; et
uerite disoit, car auecques lui estoient les uertus lustice, pru-
dence, magnanimite, attemprance^ et la doulce memoire de
ses uertueuses oeuures continuees sans les queles aucun ne
' Iamy3 damy R. * attemprance] attrempance R.
Iviii Laurence's Dedication to the Duke of Berry
puet luger soy estre beneureux. Car homme indigne et mau-
uaiz ne puest auoir sentement de iuger soy estre beneureux.
Ains conuient que tous iours et nom pas en pou de temp quil
ait bien uescu selon le droit iugement de soy mesmes. ^ Et
aussi II nest homme aqui ces choses ne deplaisent fors que au
sage. Car toute folie et aussi chascun fol engendre souuent a
soy mesmes desplaisir et ennuy.
Comment lacteur parle du cas de leglise presente et des
prestres.
Helas, las, et troys foys las, par faulte de ceste sapience,
mere et nourrice de toutes vertus diuines et humaines cheirent
Adam et eue, et par eulx est toute leur succession habandonnee
au cas & trebuschetz de fortune. Quelz cuers tant soient durs
pourroient soy abstenir de douleur? Quelz yelx tant soient
secz se porroient soi abstenir de larmes quant les hommes
voient clerement et congnoissent les cas ia aduenus des troys
estatz du monde.'' Cest assauoir, des prestres, des nobles
hommes, aussi des laboureurs de cestui temps. ^ Car quant
aux prestres qui par crasse ignorance ne congnoissent eulx
estre cheuz de leur ancianne beneurete. le di, sauue la paix,
des bons que ainsi comme dame chastete qui est la singuliere
et souueraine beaulte des femmes apres le temps du iuste
roy Saturnus. Chai et tomba ou temps de son filz lupiter
Roy de Crete par les exces et superfluites qui suruindrent en
delicieuses viandes en a tours orguilleux et sumptueux baptisse-
mens de maisons et en aultres adminicules seruans a seule
deshonneste delectacion. Aussi lancianne sanctite des pr<rstres
est cheue et versee par la trop grant habondawce de Richesses
mondaines qui soubz vmbre de la saintite de lesxxs crist et de
aulcuns siens disciples ont este donnees aux prestres par aulcuws
princes mondains qui a aulcuns les tollirent pour les donner
aux prestres ausquelx il vaulsist mielx selon lancienne saintite
viure des saincts decimes qui sont deuz par droit diuin que
eulx voultrer et pourrir de dens orguilleux palays ou fiens des
pechies auecques leurs grans et dommageuses richesses. ^ He-
las, noble et excellant prince, ne doit len bien gemir, douler
et plourer le cas et le tombement des prestres de cestui temps,
qui en tout ou en partie forslignent et desuoient de la sante
des anciens, qui par leurs larmes et oracions soloient mou-
uoir dieu et les uertus des cieulx contre les aduersaires de la
foy catholique. ^ Les sains prestres ancians sont en lewrs
successeurs telment dessaintiz que maintenant len forge heaul-
mes de mittres, len fait lawces des croces, len fait des uestemens
sacerdotalz haubergons, plattes et aultres pieces darmes bait-
ailleresses pour trauailler et asseruir les hommes simples et
innocens. Les pr^fstres de cestui temps poursuiuent armes
et paueillons, il font [IJarsins et violences pupliqw^s; Ilz ont
plaisir et loye despendre sang humain; Ilz sefForcent de occuper
Laurence's Dedication to the Duke of Berry lix
la seignorie du monde centre la sentence du vray lesxxs, filz
de dieu, disant en leuuangile, que son Roiaulme nest pas de
cestui monde. ^ Les prestres en cestui temps emplient les
sales des toys, les palays et les tables en delaissand leurs
eglises, dont ilz se nomnent espoux. Ilz delaissent les choses
saintes et poursuiuent les prophanes; Ilz sont pastours sans
paistre ne congnoistre les brebis: Eulx que leglise fist nobles
excercent vilz oflBces; Ilz desseruent par procureurs et vicaires
qui deux foj'S tendent les simples brebiettes: La premiere
tonture est aux vicaires, et la seconde est au pastour surnomme.
^ Par le bannissement de celle ancianne sainctite, Cent mal-
heureux cas sont aduenus, car le deable qui par les merites
de la mort du bon i^jus et de ses victorieux martirs et glorieux
confesseurs auoit este loies en labisme denfer par les nou-
ueaulx pechies des nouueaux prestres, et du simple peuple qui
est adheurtes en leur oeuures, est ia pieca des loie et sa[i]lli hors
denfer. Et ia defait comme loup violent et forsene atraict a
soy, las moy tresgrant partie des brebis coz/zmises en la garde
du bon pastour S. Pierre, par quoy le bon i^fjus, vray espoux
et pastour de sainte eglise, a retiree sa main du gouuemement
de elle. Et est ia en vostre temps la chose atant venue, par
le pechie principalment des prestres, et secondement du peuple
que par eulx la loy c^ristianne est presque perie maintenant.
La Robe de \es\xs sans piece et sans cousture, a este, par xxxij
ans trenchee en deulx, puis en troys pieces. ^ Et ou saint
et noble corps deglise dont lesm est le seul chief sont seur-
creues troys testes a maniere de ung monstre. Et ne remaint
que a trespou, que la nef de saint pierre ne ait este absorbie
et noiee es flocz de lamer de ce monde par le uice des nanton-
niers qui la deuoient tenir ou port de repos et de seurte. En
brief, content le cas de leglise militant, excellent, noble et
puissant prince, le prie humblement vous et tous aultres
que uous me excuses benignement. Car le entens dire sobre-
ment les choses que vous et Cent Mil hommes aues veues et
vncores voyez: et le assez le voy se lay sentement ne memoire.
Et pource ie ne allegue aulcuns autteurs ne liures, car ces
paroles ont fontaine et naiscence de vne familiere epistre es-
cripte par lehan Boccace, premier aucteur de ce liure. En
celle epistre II pleure & regrecte le cas de mondaine noblesse.
Laucteur parle du cas de noblesse mondaine.
O dist il, bon dieu de sapience qui tout sees et congnoys,
enseigne moy, le te prie, en quele partie du morzde soit reposte
noblesse dont les empereurs & roys portent les tiltres princi-
paulx? car le layquise en lostel de Cesar Roy des Rommains,
de qui les ancesseurs par longs labours et par exquises dili-
gences et par nobles oeuures de victorieuses armes ladis con-
quistrent la monarchie du monde. ^ Maiz las moy, lai trouue
que lempereur de ce temps a oublie, ou au moins il dissimule,
Ix Laurence's Dedication to the Duke of Berry
les proesses et loanges et les magnifiques besoingnes de ses
predecesseurs. II a laissie le glorieux estude de Mars ^ le dieu
des batailles et sest du tout adonne a bachus le dIeu du vin;
II a delaissie la riche, ancianne et notable Italie es mains de mil
titans, et sest ale repondre & dormir entre les naiges et grans
hanaps de vin en celle part dallemaigne qui gist au coste destre
deuers soleil couchant ou derrain anglet du monde. ^ O las,
bon dieu, com poure miroer de noblesse, quel exemple de che-
ualerie pour les roys et aultrifz princes du monde quant il[z]
voient fetardie, peresse, oysiuete et entonnrisseur en celui
qui deust a lexample de soy en hotter, esmouuoir, semondre
et esueiller les autres princes a maintenir et defFendre les con-
questz de l^wrs noblez awcestrez et a Iceulx amplier ^ et ac-
croistre. Du corps de lempereur ainsi comme ou soleil soloient
liure et resplendir toutes uertus qui appartement se monstroient
par nobles euures dehors les vertus soient de corps ou de courage,
qui ne monstrent au dehors leurs propres oeuures ne rendewt
howme plus noble ne que la lune enlumine le monde quant
la terre sest mise entre le soleil & la face de la lune. ^ O no-
blesse mondaine, fille des nobles meurs & nourrie du lait des
saintes vertuz qui est celui q^i ta vanny des hostelz voiaulx,
& aussi des aultres princes? Tu respons que longuement tu
habitas nomme comme hostesse en lostel des roys francoys, et
que illenc volentiers demouroies, maiz que icelle erreur cessast
parquoy aucuns folement cuiderent & encor*? dient qjie seule-
ment ce nest pas laide chose a vng roy congnoistre les figures
des lettres, maiz il cuident et dient que cest tresgrant empire-
ment de maieste Royale. Maiz telz howmes sont folz qui
ainsi dient et qui condempnent telle chose es Roys, parquoy
les hommes ignobles sont droittement anoblis; car droit office
de Roy et daultres princes est chacun iour seoir en siege iudica-
tour, ouir paciemment et sagement examiner les merites des
causes sur les controuersies de leurs hommes subgetz, et rendre
droit aux parties selon balence de iustice. ^ DefFendre les Inno-
cens et punir les mauuaiz, procurer princilpalment le pupliqw^
proufit, et apres le bien priue que len appelle demaine pource
que il vient des mains et du labour du peuple en la main du
prince, qui de sa puissant main doit garder et defFendre le
peuple Impotent. Et certes clere chose est, que office royal
ne puest homme sans science et sans art droictement {^conduire
et] excercer, Ainsi comme vng patron de nauire ne puet bonne-
ment condu[i]re en mer tempestueuse et vndoiant vne grant
nef sans gouuernail, sans voile, ne sans remmes. ^ Et auoir
en tour soy hommes lettres et nobles commis en offices publiques,
ne monstre pas asses plainement la sapience ne la noblesse du
roy, ou daultre prince, se il mesme nest lettres et expert en
* de Mars3 maiz R. * amplier^ employer R.
Laurence's Dedication to the Duke of Berry Ixi
oeuure de sapience et en discipline darmes, cest vng corbiau
vestu de plumes de paon. Et prince sans lettres se assorte
a lasne qui coronne porte, Et sil nest aulcun homme bon iuge
fors que es choses que il congnoist lamaiz archier ne tire droit
sa flesche, se il na aulcun signe deuant soy. ^ O dieu, quel
grant louenge et beneurete seroit a vng roy ou aultre prince
cowgnoistre les causes de toutes choses auec celle noblesse se
aulcune soit que viengne aux enfans de par leurs peres. Car
ainsi comme vng iardin con plante de diuerses especes darbres
& herbes flories et oudourans est plus noble et pluj- precieulx,
aussi sont enfans de nobles hommes qui sont nourris entre
les fleurs des sciences & oudeurs des vertus, et qui ont longue-
ment este repeuz des fruitz. Attendu que noblesse nest pas
hereditaire; car elle prent naiscence de vertuz et bonnes oeu-
ures; Et combien que en punicion du pechie des premiers parens
Adam & Eue seruitute par souffrence de dieu soit introduicte
entre les hommes, en tant que les aulcuns seruent et les aultres
seignorient nompas selon droit naturel ne ciuil, maiz par le
droit des gens qui contient douze choses, dont seruitute est
lune, neantmoins aulcuns nobles de ce temps sont si descheus
de lestat de uraye noblesse que follement Ilz cuident eulz
et non aultres estre hommes et que ilz puissent faire pareile-
ment toutes choses permises et defFendues sans encourir ne
difFame ne peine combien que il soit aultrement. ^ Car tout
vice de courage est plus griefnjent a punir de tant comme le
pecheur est en plus grant degre. Et se dieu sage et iuste seufFre
et veult que les roys et princes et aultres nobles aient espee
de puissance sur leurs subgetz II toute uoies ne veult quilz
excercent fureur ne cruaulte, car aux nobles principalment
affiert auoir clemence qui met equitte deuant rigueur et veult
plus encliner a merci que a uerzgence sans faillir hors des termes
de iustice, sans laqu<fle Roys ne sont roys ne royaulmes. Ains
sont tirans cruelz et tirannies. ^ Par ainsi donqui?s appert
que le plus grief cas et le plus dampnable trebuschetz de noblesse
cest forsbanir et dechassier sciences et vertus de lostel des
roys, et aultres princes ainsi comme il aperra clerem^nt par
le compte des cas des nobles malheureux descriptz en ce pres-
ent volume.
Ci parle lacteur du cas des laboureux champestres.
Or vienge a dire le cas des saintz laboureurs et tresbien
fortunes, Maiz que ilz aient congnoissance de la quantite des
biens que fortune leur donne. Et certes, puissant, noble et
excellant prince, es choses dessus di'c/es en ce present prologue
lusquez yci len me doit tenir pour raco7?;pteur des paroles
de lehan Boccace en vne sienne familiere epistre: et chacun
aussi congnoist la verite des deux cas de prestrise et de mondaine
noblesse. ^ Maiz quant au tiers cas present parquoy ie vueil
monstrer le tresbuchet des laboureurs, et de la chose rustique.
Ixii Laurence's Dedication to the Duke of Berry
le prens uirgile powr mon auteur et maistre. Aulcun done
ne se m^rueille se le dy que lestat des laboureurs et de leurs
choses ait este et soit subjet au cas de fortune: Combien que
commun prouerbe soit que aulcun homme ne chiet, fors celui
que siet en hault. Car en toutes choses sur quoy enuie gecte
ses yeulx dame fortune y entreprent seignourie, la soit ce aussi
que lendieque laboureurs sont de si bas estat que fortune ne
les pourroit abaisser. Maiz sauue la paix de ceulx qui aiwsi
dient car se les laboureurs et leurs choses rustiqMifs feussent
ou [en]corez soubz celle beneurete et franchise en quoy ladiz
il furent et oncorez deussent estre selon les loyx anciennes
approuuees diuines et humaines, II nest aulcun aultre estat
qui ait en soy teles excellances en profis en delitz et en honnes-
tetes publiques et priues comme la vie et lestat des labou-
reurs, par qui les hommes sont soustenus et nouris en necessite
de corps et les sacrifices diuins sont admenistres selon la re-
ligion publique. C| O bon dieu, quant ladiz les cites tambois-
soient par discensions, riotes et batailles cruelles, quant chasti-
aulx et chastelains guerroient les vngs contre les aultres. Adonc
les laboureurs contens de leurs propres biens viuoient et de-
lectable et continuelle paix en mutuelle amour sanz soufFrir
aulcun dowmage, rapine ou violensce, ne en corps ne en biens:
On laissoit iadiz cites murees et chasteaux assiz sur roches
pour eschapper mesaises et perilz qui illenques souruenoient,
Et venoit len aux villaiges ouuers et bas assiz pour y trouuer
aisances et seurtes, Et pour auoirer mon dit en labourages
terrestres sont prouffilz et delectacions Innumerables si haulte-
ment descriptz et racomptes par tulle, noble orateur rommain,
en son liure de vieillesse lequel vous auez comme ie croy oy
diligewment et entendu, que ie nen vueil pr^sentement escripre,
Maiz Ie vueil neantmoins auec vostre bon plaisir plourer
apr<?s vous les cas des saintz laboureurs de la chose rustique
pource que la chose ^ publique et la religion de vostre noble
couraige se doit moult encliner a secourir aux choses tres dom-
mageuses aux hommes detestables enuers dieu. ^ Las moy
bon dieu, quele moquerie, quel monstre en bonnes meurs, quel
abuz de iustice est ce maintenant veoir les hommes laboureurs,
simples innocens sans cruaulte et sans armes, qui nuit et lour
demeurent en poures maisonettes si sobremi?nt, repeuz et
vestuz de leurs propres labours que a paines II appaisent la
faim, et de vilz palestreaux II cueuurcent leurs mewbres recourbes
et frossiez par continuel labour, Ilz qui purement nourissent
leurs fewmes et enfans afin de les endurcir aux saints labours
de la terre, Il[z] departent tout le temps de leur vie en trois pars:
Premierement a dieu seruir en prieres et sacrifices, a titer
par continuel labour des boyaulx de la terre toutes choses
' chose]] pitie Add., R.
Laurence's Dedication to the Duke of Berry Ixiii
necessaires a la vie, Et a multiplier par leurs saintz mariages
succession de lignie. Certes en ces iij choses na riens qui ne
soit accordant a la loy diuine et humaine. La vie des labou-
reurs champestres droittement examinee et congneue sambla
tele aux ancians nobles hommes, philosophes et princes quilz
instituerent par editz et par loix que ce lui seroit repute et
pugny comme sacrilege qui ofFendroit et rauiroit leurs labours
ou leurs biens feust en champ ou en ville. Et pource furent
ilz et oncores sont appelles saintz. ^ Mais, puissant, noble et
excellent prince, escoutez sil vous plaist le miserable cas de
ces laboureurs et de leur chose rustique aux quelz se par vous
ou aultre aiant puissance, voulente et sagesse nest briefment
secouru et pourueu en vostre temps, de remede couuenable.
Dieu, qui ne het ^ aulcun et qui de tous a merci et en espicial
des bons simples laboureurs et aultres hommes iustes, II
retirera sa main a sa beniuolance des prestres et des nobles
qtti ne gardent misericorde, ne Justice enuers eulx, ne enuers
les aultres. Ains les soubz marchent et foulent. II aduenra
que dieu leur ostera, Raison dentendement, honneur de ancian
estat et les vestira de confusion. II espressira les tenebres
de leurs ywelx; II mettra trebuschetz a leurs piez afin quilz
cheent du tres hault au tres bas. ^ II ramenra a neant ou
transportera en aultres mains leurs orguilleuses richesses, hon-
neurs, gloires, dignites et puissances. le ne vous persuade
ne admonneste pas car vous aduisez asses par les yeulx de
vostre pensee & ceulx de vostre corps, quele et com grant
iniquite, seu[e]r[i]te et austerite ce soit voir les simples labou-
reurs proufitables a tous et nuisans a nul homme estre par apperte
violence [^oppressez etj] dechasses de leurs propres ^ maisons,
mutiles, batus, Iniuries de fait et de paroles; leurs fames a
hontages, leurs filles corrompuees, et leur aultres choses trans-
glouties et gastees ou mises a rampson par les nobles hommes
darmes de ce temps, ausquelz les roys et princes deputent
ou au moins doiuent commettre la garde et la defFense des
saintz laboureurs et de leur chose rustique. ^ De leurs gaings
et labours sont comblees et esplendies les tables des Roys,
des princes et daultres quel[z]conques nompas seulement
hommes mayz bestes et oyseaulx soient priuees ou sauuaiges.
Et en eulx est tele frugalite et sobresse que pour aisier et se-
courir les aultres Ilz seuffrent voluntairement disettes et me-
saises: Ilz portent sanz Reclam le lou de seruitute et le grief
faiz de truage, Ilz regrettent seulement que ilz ne possident
mie en seurte et en paix ce pou qui leur demeure apres dame
sainte eglise et leurs aultres seigneurs satisfaitz de leurs rentes,
demaines et subsidies. ^ Entre les trois griefz tresbuchetz
de tele beneurte comme laboureurs ont liniquite et malice
* het3 ^i2>t» Add. - propres] poures, R a.
bciv Laurence's Dedication to the Duke of Berry
des ministres des deulx iuridicions, eccliastique et seculiere
cest la plwj- mortele plale qui plus dedens les naure et le diluge
qui plus les sangloutist. Car a hommes corrumpus de tous
vices en ce temps est cowmise ladministracion et lespee de
Justice a luger les simples et Innocens laboureurs. ^ Es cours
iudicatoires ^ sont aduocatz et procureurs bien instruitz en
baratz et cauteles conseillans, a mouuoir et nourrir plaiz et
controuersies soit a bon droit et ^ a tort, afin de tirer ou goufFre
de leur couuoitise les deniers des parties plaidoiaws soubz
faulse couleur de auoir loyaulment conseille et defFendu les
causes. Las moy, ne souffisoit II assez selon les saintz droitz
canons que les prelatz aians les premieres dignitez en sainte
eglise eussent comment ^ il ont leurs diligens Archediacres
pour aduiser et enquenx par les Cites et dioceses les crimes
et exces parpetres par les howmes et iceulx rapporter aux
oreilles des prelatz des lieux, afin de iceulx punir et corrigier
selon iustice. Certes il souffisoit a dieu, maiz non pas au
deable ne aux siens, car afin que soubz fardee Justice toute
la substance des simples laboureurs viengne a saouler la faim
de la mauldite couuoitise des Euesques et aultres hommes
deglise. Ilz mettent officiers en leurs cours, hommes barbares
et sans pitie, sans bonnes meurs, sans uertus et sans sciences
qui nuit et lour espient par queles voiez Ilz puissent accuser
et traire en lugement simples et Innocens hommes plus dignes
destre absolz que comdempnes. ^ Pource, excellant, noble et
puissant prince, ce que le scay vostre singulier plaisir et toute
vostre estude tournes en la partie de commune bonte et que
aux malheureux cas dessus diets wous comme puissant et sage,
poues et sauez pourueoir et secourir. Et que vos salutaires
cowmandemens attendue lauctorite de vostre noble et com-
mandable vieillesse, peeuent souuerainement reparer les choses
deformeez et confermer les bonnes, le au surcroys de tout
ce liure ay mis fiablement ce prologue a fin que chacun
congnoisse que vouz nestes pas seulement nez pour vous, Maiz
pour profiter a tous en ouura?it la voye deschaper les cas de
fortune muable et au[e]uglesse parce que vous abandonnez
a tous le plain entendement du volume dessus dit, du quel
par vostre commandement lay entrepris la charge de le trans-
later de latin en langaige francoys. ^ Si vueillez donques
excellant, noble et puissant prince, mon tres singulier bien-
faitteur et redoubte seigneur, defFendre ma cause comme la
vostre propre contre les enuieux, qui sans iuste cause vouldront
malicieusement contrester a ceste vostre oeuure qui par moy
est ourdie et terue au moins mal selon mon pouoir. Et pour
leuident n[e]cessite et pour le iuste desir que lay dauoir bon
1 iudicatoires] ludiciares, R 2. ^ et] ou, Add., R 2.
• comment] comme, Add., R i.
Laurence* s Dedication to the Duke of Berry Ixv
commancement et de meilleur moyen et de tres bonne fin en
ceste besoigne qui ne peuent daultre venir fors de celui qui
sans en auoir moins donne a tous ces dons de grace. ^ le
prie, appelle et requier dieu a qui fortune obeit, qui trebuche
et drece les hommes selon leurs pechiez et uertus que par sa
surhabundant grace II enrichisse mon ame de science sans
errer, et ma bouche de paroles accordans a verite et me donne
bonnes meurs sanz desroguer a la diuine loy: Et quil conduie
ma plume diligemnent escruiant sanz langoureuse paresse au
commun prouffit de touz et a la loange diuine.
' L t>J'>
i.v V
THE FALL OF PRINCES
BOOK I.
PROLOGUE.
CHere begynneth the book callyd I. Bochas des-
criuyng the falle of F^rjmcys pryncessys and
othir nobles translatid in to Inglissh bi lohn
Ludgate Monke of the Monastery of seynt
Edmundes Bury atte commaundement of the
worthi prynce Humfrey duk of Gloucestre
begynnyng at Adam & endyng wit/i kyng
lohnc take prisonere in Fraunce bi Prynce
Edward.] ^
HE that whilom dede his dilligence [p. i]
The book of Bochas in Frensh to translate
Out of Latyn, he callid was Laurence;
The tyme trewli remembrid and the date, 4
The yere * whan kyng lohn thoruh his mortal fate
Was prisoner brouht to this regioun,
Whan he first gan on this translacioun.
In his prologe afFermyng ofF resoun,
TArtificeres hauyng exercise
May chaunge and tume bi good discrecloun
Shappis, formys, and newli hem deuyse,
Make and vnmake in many sondry w>'se,
As potteres, which to that craft entende,
Breke and renewe ther vesselis to a-mende.
\ Thus men oflF crafft may off due riht,
That been inuentifF & han experience,
Fantasien in ther inward siht
Deuises newe thoruh ther excellence;
Expert maistres han therto licence
Fro good to bettir for to chaunge a thyng,
, And semblabli these clerkis in writyng,
/ Thyng that was maad of auctowrs hem befom,
Thei may off newe fynde and fantasie,
Ljrdgate says
that Laurence
de Premierfait
began his
translation
in the year
that King
lohn of
France
was brought
prisoner to
England.
3 As craftsmen
use their
powers of
invention,
jg so may
skilled clerks
amend and
improve their
originals.
3. he3 erased in H.
16. han|] have H.
S. The yere] Yeer B, R, H, There J.
1 MS. J. leaf I a.
if they are
modest and
free from
envy.
as was
Laurence.
He excelled
as a writer
of French,
but felt it
to be a great
task to write
the Fall of
Princes.
/
No rose is
without a
thorn,
no man so
high in his
estate that
he may not
fall.
Prologue Qbk. i
Out of old chafF trie out ful cleene corn, 24
Make it more fressh and lusti to the eie,
Ther subtil witt and ther labour applie,
With ther colours agreable off hewe,
Make olde thynges for to seeme newe, 28
Afforn prouydid that no presumpcioun
In ther chaungyng haue noon auctorite,
And that meeknesse haue dominaciouw,
Fals Envie that she not present be; 32
But that ther grouwd with parfit charite
Conueied be to ther auauntage,
Trewli rootid a-myd of ther corage.
Thus Laurence fro hym envie excludid, 36
Thouh toforn hym translatid was this book,
Withywne hymsilff he. fulli hath concludid,
Vpon that labour whan he caste his look,
He wolde amende it; but first he forsook 40
Presumpcioun, and took to hym meeknesse,
In his prologe as he doth expresse.
In which processe, lik as I am lerid.
He in his tyme off cuwnyng dede excelle 44
In ther language, therfore he was requerid
Off estatis, which gan hym eek compelle,
A-mong hem holde off rethorik the welle,
To vndirfonge this labour they hym preie, 48
And* ther request he lowli dede obeie.
Ful weel he felte the labour was notable,
The fall of nobles, with eueri circumstauwce,
From ther lordshippes, dreedful and vnstable, 52
How that thei fill to putte in remembrauwce,
Therin to shewe Fortunys variauwce,
That othre myhte as in a merour see
In worldly worshepe may be no surete. 56
Bi exauwple, as there is no rose
Spryngyng in gardeyns, but ther be sum thorn,
Nor fairer blosme than Nature list dispose.
Than may ther beute, as men ha[ue] seyn toforn, 60
With bittir wyndes be fro ther braunchis born,
24. ful]wolH, well R 3, wel P — out]om.H5. 46. gan^canR.
49. And] And he B — he] om. R — lowly he dide J.
58. gardeyns] gardyn H. 61. fro] frome H.
BK. l]
Prologue
Nor noon so hih in his estat contune
Fre fro thawaityng & daunger of Fortune.
Wherfore Bochas for a memoriall, 64
Consid[e]ryng the grete dignitees
Off worldli pryncis in ther power roiall,
Grete emperours, estatis and degrees,
How Fortune hath cast hem from ther sees; 68
/ Namly such as koude hemsilff nat knowe,
\Ful sodenly to make hem lyn ful lowe.
This said auctour, auise and riht sad,
Hath gadred out, with rethoriques sueete, 72
In dyuers bookes which that he hath rad,
Off phihsophres and many an old poete,
Besied hym bothe in cold and hete*
Out to compile and writen as he fond 76
The fall of nobles in many dyuers lond.
Vpon whos book in his translacioun
This seid Laurence rehersith in certeyn,
And holdith this in his opynyoun, 80
/ Such language as open is and pleyn
y Is more acceptid, as it is ofFte seyn,
Than straunge termys which be nat vndirstande,
Namly to folkis that duellyn vp-on lande. 84
And* he seith eek, that his entencioun [p. 2]
Is to a-menden, correcten and declare;
Nat to condempne off no presumpcioun,
But to supporte, pleynli, and to spare 88
Thyng touchid shortly off the story bare,
Vndir a stile breeff and compendious.
Hem to prolonge whan thei be vertuous:
For a stor^"^ which is nat pleynli told, 92
But constreynyd vndir woordes fewe
For lak off trouthe, wher thei be newe or old.
Men bi report kan nat the mater shewe;
These ookis grete be nat doun ihewe 96
First at a strok[e], but bi long processe,
( Nor longe stories a woord may not expresse.
Bochas was
the original
compiler
of the Fall
of Princes.
Laurence
held that !t
is good to
write simply
and dearly.
and he said
that he would
amplify the
story wherever
necessary;
for a narrative
must not be
too condensed.
63. fro3 frome H — of dawnger & H. 68. from] fro R.
75. and] and in B, H, & eke in R 3. - —
85. And] As B, R, — eek] also J. 94. newe] yong H.
95. report] reprot R.
4 Prologue [^bk. i
Rewrote YoT which, plcynli, this noble translatour
Caste off purpos these stories for to write, loo
And for to doon his dilHgent labour
As thei fill in ordre to endite,
That men afFtir myhte hemsilfF delite,
Auentures, so as thei fill in deede, 104
Off sundry pryncis to beholde & reede,
seeti^raiT^^ ,And hauc a maner contemplaciouw,
"^ That thynges all, wher Fortune may atteyne,
<.Be transitory of condiciouw; 108
For she off kynde is hasti & sodeyne,
Contrarious hir cours for to restreyne.
Off wilfulnesse she is so variable, m
Whan men most truste, than is she most chauwgable.
fs deceitful!"'' And for hir chaung and for hir doubilnesse.
This Bochas biddith* that men sholde enclyne
Sette ther hertis, void off vnstabilnesse,
Vpon thynges which that been deuyne, 116
Where-as ioie perpetueli doth shyne
Withoute eclipsyng in that heuenli see,
Void off all cloudis off mutabilite.
see that all
things are
transitory
S<^
we must set
our hearts on
divine and
permanent
things.
bot'h of j!^^r* Among, this Bochas writith off suetnesse 120
And off materes that lusti been and glade,
And sumwhile he writt off wrechidnesse.
And how Fortune kan floure & afftir fade —
Ioie vndir cloude, prosperite in the shade, 124
Entirchauwgyng off euery maner thyng,
Which that men feele, heer in this world lyvyng.
And in his processe, who-so list beholde.
Off alle estatis, off hih and louh degre, 128
And off pryncis bothe yong and olde.
Fro the begynnyng, which in this world ha be,
Lyuyng in ioie or in aduersite.
Fro the firste he descendith doun i3«
Off ther fortune be pleyn descripcioun.
Afim'a'Ifd '''''' Off the most noble he ne spareth noon,
But settith hem in ordre ceriously,
Gynnyth at Adam & endith at kyng lohn, 136
; joy
and sorrow
and of
Fortune's
mutability
He told the
story of all
eitates,
ending with
King John
of France.
U'^Y
1 14. biddith] bitt B, but R, bydde H 5. 120. writith] writ H.
126. heer in this world lyvyng] in this world her lyvyng H.
129. yong] of yong H.
BK. l]
Prologue
Ther auentures rehersyng by and by,
Off this kyng lohn concludyng fynaly,
How that he was, for al his gret puissance,
Off prynce Edward take prisoner in France.
This seid[e] Bochas, auctour off this book,
Which off stories hadde gret intelligence,
Summe he leffte [and] summe also he took, —
Such as he leffte was off no necligence,
Supposyng and demyng off credence,
Alle the stories which that comoun be,
(Other knew hem also weel as he.
And lest that folk wolde haue had disdeyn,
■^i:::^ Thynges comoun to put in memorie,*
Therfore Bochas thouhte it was but veyn.
To his name noon encres off glorie,
, To remembre no cronvcle nor historie,
140
144
148
What he left
out is of (mall
conteqaence.
for he induded
all the best
and most
famous
histories.
But tho that wern for ther merit notable.
I Auctorised, famous and comendable.
In his labour hauyng a delit,
That the mater gretli myhte auaile.
Do plesance to the comon profit.
Off noble stories to make rehersaile,
Shewyng a meroz^r how al the world shal faile,
And how Fortune, for al ther hih renouw,
Hath vpon pryncis iurediccioun.
The which[e] thyng, in ful sobre wise.
He considred in his inward entent.
In his resoun gan to aduertise,
Seyng off princis the blynd entendement.
With worldli worshep how that thei be blent,
As thei sholde euer ther estatis keepe.
And as Fortune were I-leid to sleepe.
As thei hadde off Fortune the maistry.
Here enchauntid with ther pociouns
Bi sum craft off newe sorcery.
Or bi power off incantaciouns,
To make stable ther domynaciouns
With iren cheynys for to laste longe^ -
Lokkid to rokkis off adamantis stronge.
137. rehersyng] reh^rsith H. 148. folk] folkej R 3.
149, etc. memoire, gloire, histoire B.
163. considred] considrith H.
156
160
shewing as in
a mirror how
Fortune is
topreme
over Princes,
who
164
168
[p. 3]
172
believe, in
their pride,
that they are
her masters.
Prologue
[bk. I
But Fortune
often casts
them down.
Some Princes
even set God
at nought.
but He
punishes
them:
some with
sickness, others
with adversity.
Bochas
believed that
it is right to
hold before
the vicious
notable
examples of
those who fell;
.-^'
Supposyng[e] in ther surquedie
Ther estatis sholde be durable;
But Fortune kan frowardli denye,
Pleynli preue that thai be chauwgable,
And to pryncis, for thel be nat stable,
Fortune ful ofFte, for al ther gret estat,
Vnwarll chauwgith & seith to hem ^chekmat
i^or lordis summe in ther magnificence
<^Off roial power sette off God riht nouht,
Thei nat considre his long pacience,
Nor aduertise his power in ther thouht,
But in ther hertis, yiff it were weel souht,
How he is meek and pacient to a-bide,
Thei wolde off resoun ther pompe leyn a-side.
But for ther tarieng and ther necligence,
That thei to hym wil nat resorte a-geyn,
Yit off his mercy and benyuolence,
Withoute vengance, rigour or disdeyn,
As a meek fadir, in alle his werkis pleyn,
Assaieth his yerde off castigaciouw,
So for to brynge hem to correccioun.
Suwme he can ful fadirli chastise,
Where he loueth, be punshyng off siknesse.
And off his mercy in many a-nother wise
Baduersite* off sum worldll distresse;
(And he nat asklth, for his kynd[e]nesse,
' Off hih nor low, who-so can aduerte,
-/Noon othir tresor but a manwys herte.
And as myn auctour list to comprehende, —
This lohn Bochas, bi gret auctorlte, —
■ It Is almesse to correct* and a-mende
The vicious folk off euery comouwte.
And bi exauwplis which that notable be
Off pryncis olde, that whilom dede fall.
The lowere peeple from ther errour call.
Bi smale whelpis, as suwme clerkis write.
Chastised is the myhti fers \eoun,
And whan the suerd off vengauwce eek doth bite
176
180
A'iu»v«-c lv,M«aj(^
192
196
204
208
184. rihtnoulit B, R. 186. auertise R.
198. ponysshyng H, punysshyng R 3, punishyng H J.
200. Baduersite] Bathuersite B, Bi adiiersite R.
201. his] om. R. 206. correct] correctyn B.
BK. l]
Prologue
I
224
228
Vpon prjTicis for ther transgressioun,
The comon peeple in ther opynyouw,
For verray dreed[e] tremble don* & quake, 216
And bl such mene ther vices thei forsake.
And such also as ha be defoulid
In ther vicis bi long contynuaunce,
Or in ther sjTinys rustid and ImowHd, 220
Bi good example may come to repentaurzce:
Who hym repentith, the Lord will hym auauTice,
And hym accepte, in hih and louh estat, —
The meek preserue, punyshe the obstynat.
This said[e] mater, touchyng such[e] thyngis,
Myn auctour Bochas heerafftir shal declare
Bexaumple off pryncis & off myhti kyngis,
\Miat was ther fyn, & nat the trouthe spare;
And theih my stile nakid be and bare,
In rethorik myn auctour for to sue,
Yit fro the trouthe shal I nat remue,
But on the substance bi good leiser abide, 232
AiFtir myn auctour lik as I may atteyne,
And for my part sette eloquence aside.
And in this book bewepen and compleyne
Thassaut off Fortune, froward and sodeyne, 236
How she on pr^'ncis hath kid her variaurzce
And off her malice the dedli mortal chaunce.
But, o alias! who shal be my muse,
Or onto whom shal I for helpe calle? 240
Calliope my callyng will refuse.
And on Pernaso here worthi sustren alle;
Thei will ther sugre tempre with no galle,
• For ther suetnesse & lusti fressh syngyng 244
Ful ferr discordith fro materis compleynyng.
My maistir Chaucer, with his fresh comedies.
Is ded, alias, cheefF poete off Breteyne,
That whilom made ful pitous tragedies; 248
The fall of pryncis he dede also compleyne, tKvio
As he that was of makyng souereyne,
Whom al this land sholde off riht preferre,
Sithe off oure language he was the lodesterre. 252
216. don]] doun B, R, a dour. J. 217. mene] menys H.
229. nakid] nake H.
251. sholde off rihtj of right oujt J.
for if Princes
are chastised,
so much the
more ought
the commons
to dread a
like fate.
Even hardened
sinners may be
brought to
repentance by
g>3d eiamole.
My style is
bare of
rhetoric,
but I will
deal faithfully
with my
author.
I have no
Muse: my
subject is too
doleful for
the Sisters of
Mt. Parnassus,
and Chaascii. .
alas, fs dead. {
the lodestar \
of our /'
language. '
/451-?
Other men,
too, wrote
tragedies:
Seneca, Tully,
and Francis
Petrarch, who
made a book
of Two
Fortunes.
John Bochas
told how
Princes fell
into distress.
All praise to
my master
Chaucer, who
refined our
language.
He wrote
Proilus,
and
translated
Boece.
Prologue []bk. I
Senek in Rome, thoruh his hih prudence, [p. 4]
Wrot tragedies of gret moralite;
And Tullius, cheefF welle off eloquence,
Maad in his tyme many fressh dite; 256
Franceis Petrak, off Florence the cite,
Made a book, as I can reherce,
Off too Fortunys, welful and peruerse.
And ageyn bothe wrot the remedies, 260
In bookis tweyne made a divisiouw,
A-mong rehersyng many fressh stories.
The firste book is thus conueied dou«,
A dialoge twen Gladnesse and Resoun; 264
The seconde can ber me weel witnesse,
Maad atwen Resoun & Worldli Heuynesse.
The mater is wondirful delectable,
Thouh wo with ioie haue an interesse; 268
And lohn Bochas wrot maters lamentable,
The fall of pryncis, where he doth expresse
How fro ther ioie thei fill in gret distresse;
And all these writers, thoruh ther famous renouw, 272
Gret worshipe dede vnto ther naciouw.
And semblabli as I ha[ue] told toforn.
My maistir Chaucer dede his besynesse.
And in his dales hath so weel hym born, 276
Out off our tunge tauoiden al reudnesse.
And to refourme it with colours of suetnesse;
Wherfore lat us yiue hym laude & glory
And putte his name with poetis in memory. 280
Off whos labour to make mencioun,
Wherthoruh off riht he sholde comendid be,
In youthe he made a translacioun
Off a book which callid is Trophe 284
In Lumbard tunge, as men may reede & see.
And in our vulgar, longe or that * he deide,
Gaff it the name off Troilus & Cresseide.
Which for to reede louers hem delite, 288
Thei ha[ue] theryn so gret deuocioun.
And this poete, hymsilff also to quite,
263. thus]] thus first H. 267. wondirful] riht wondir H.
268. an interesse] intresse R.
284. caliid is] is callid R. 286. that] than B, R.
BK. l]
Prologue
Off Boeces book, The Consolacioun,
Maad in his tyme an hool translacioun. 292
And to his sone, that callid was Lowis,
He made a tretis, ful noble & off gret pris,
Vpon thastlabre in ful notable fourme,
Sette hem in ordre with ther dyuysiouns, 296
Mennys wittis tapplien and confourme.
To vndirstonde be ful expert resouns
Be domefieng off sundry mansiouns,
The roote out-souht at the ascendent, 3cx5
Toforn or he gaff any iugement.
He wrot also ful many day agone,
Dante in Inglissh, hymsilff so doth expresse,
The pitous story off Ceix and Alcione, 304
And the deth eek of Blaunche the Duchesse,
And notabli dede his bisynesse,
Bi gret auys his wittis to dispose,
To translate the Romaunce off the Rose. 308
Thus in vertu he sette al his entent,
Idilnesse and vicis for to fle;
Off Foulis also he wrot the Parlement,
Theryn remembryng of roial Eglis thre, 312
How in ther chois thei felte aduersite,
Tofor Nature profred the bataile,
Ech for his parti, yiff it wolde auaile.
He dede also his dilligence & peyne 316
In our vulgar to translate and endite
Origen vpon the Maudeleyne,
And off the Leoun a book he dede write;
Off Anneleyda* and of fals Arcite 320
He made a compleynt, doolful & pitous,
And off the broche which that Vulcanus
At Thebes wrouhte, ful dyuers of nature,
Ouide writith, who theroff hadde a siht, 324
For hih desir he shulde nat endure
But he it hadde, neuer be glad nor liht;
And yiff he hadde it onys in his myht,
292. an]] & R. 294. The last two Utters of pris torn off H.
303. Dante] Dant H. 305. eek] also H.
312. remembryng] memebr\-ng R. 318. mawgdeleyne H.
320. Anneleyda] Anneloyda B, H 5, Anneleida R, H, P,
annelida J. 328. writ] wrott R.
He made a
treatise on
the Astrolabe
for his tea
Lewis,
translated
from Dante
and wrote
Celx and
Alcyone,
The Deth of
Blaunche,
The Romaunt
of the Rose,
The Parlement
of Foules,
Origen on
Mary
Magdalen,
The Book of
the Lion,
Anelida and
Fals Arc>te,
the story of
the brooch
that Vulcan
wrought,
lO
Prologue
[bk. I
The I.egende
of Good
Women,
p :y
The
Canterbury
Tales,
including
the stories of
Melibeus in
prose,
Griselda,
and The
Monk's Tale,
and many
complaints,
roundels,
ballades
and songs.
Poets used
to be the
favourites
of kings.
Lich as my maistir seith and writ in deede, 328
It to conserue he sholde ay lyue in dreede.
This poete wrot, at request off the queen,
A legende off parfit hoolynesse,
Off Goode Women to fynde out nynteen 332
That dede excelle in bouwte and fairnesse;
But* for his labour and [his] bisynesse
Was inportable his wittis to encoumbre,
In al this world to fynde so gret a nouwbre. 336
He made the book off Cantirburi Talis, [p. 5]
Whan the pilgrymis rood on pilgrymage
Thoruhout Kent bi hillis and bi valis,
And alle the stories told in ther passage, 340
Enditid hem ful weel in our language:
Sumwe off knyhthod, summe off gentilesse,
And summe off loue & sumwe off parfitnesse,
And suwme also off gret moralite, 344
Suwme off disport, includynge gret sentence.
In prose he wrot the Tale off Melibe,
And off his wiff, that callid was Prudence,
And off Grisildis* parfit pacience, 348
And how the Monk off stories newe & olde
Pitous tragedies be the weie tolde.
This said poete, my maistir in his daies,
Maad and compiled ful many a fressh dite, 352
Compleyntis, baladis, rouwdelis, virelaies
Ful delectable to heryn and to see.
For which men sholde, off riht and equite,
Sithe he off Inglissh in makyng was the beste, 356
Preie onto God to yiue his soule good teste.
And these poetis I make off menciouw.
Were bi old tyme had in gret deynte.
With kyngis, pryncis in euery regiouw, 360
Gretli preferrid afftir ther degre;
For lordis hadde plesance for to see.
To studie a-mong, and to caste ther lookis
At good[e] leiser vpon wise bookis. 364
334. But] And B. 342. 2nd summe] & summe R.
345. encludyng R. 348. Gresildes B.
352. a] oTtt. H. 357. good] owi. R.
BK. l]
Prologue
II
For in the tyme ofF Cesar lulius,
Whan the tryumphe he wan in Rome town,
He entre wolde the scoole off Tullius
And heere his lecture ofFgret aiFeccioun; 368
And natwithstandyng his conquest & renou;z,
Vnto bookis he gafF gret attendaunce
And hadde in stories ioie and gret pleasu7zce.
Eek in this land, I dar afFerme a thyng: 372
There is a prynce ful myhti ofF puissauwce,
A kyngis sone and vncle to the kyng
Henry the Sexte, which is now in Fraunce,
And is lieftenant, and hath the gouernaunce 376
OfF our Breteyne, thoruh whos discrecioun
He hath conserued in this regioun,
Duryng his tyme, ofF ful hih prudence.
Pes and quiete and sustened riht, 380
Yit natwithstandyng his noble prouidence,
He is in deede proued a good[e] knyht,
Eied as Argus with resoun and forsiht;
OfF hih lettrure, I dar eek ofF hym telle, 384
And treuli deeme that he doth excelle
In vndirstondyng alle othir off his age,
And hath gret ioie with clerkis to comune:
And no man is mor expert off language, 388
Stable in study alwey he doth contune,
Settyng a-side alle chaungis of Fortune;
And wher he loueth, yiff I shal nat tarie,
Withoute cause ful loth he is to varie. 392
Due off Gloucestre men this prynce calle,
And natwithstandyng his staat & dignite,
His corage neuer doth appalle
To studie in bookis off antiquite, 396
Therin he hath so gret felicite
Vertuously hymsilff to ocupie.
Off vicious slouthe to haue the maistrie.
And with his prudence and with his manheed, 400
Trouthe to susteene he fauour set a-side.
And hooli chirch[e] meyntenyng in deed.
Cxsar
himself
listened to
Tully^t
■ teaching.
In this
country
there is a
Prince, a
gcxxl kniiiht.
who excels
all in
understanding
and loves to
be with
scholars and
read their
books.
374. to] vn to H.
376. lefFtenaunt H.
369. renoun] gret Rcnourt H.
375. Henry] Herry H, Henri J
382. goode] riht good H.
384. lettrure] lectrure B, R, lettur R 3, lecture P
400. 2nd with] wit R.
He is the
Duke of
Gloucester,
a man who
upholds the
church and
tolerates no
Lollard,
12
Prologue
[bk. I
j/>''
\ \ »-'•
manly and
wise, he is a
foe to all
heretics.
He knew the
book of
Bochas,
and bade me
translate it
into English,
which I will
do, although
Hack
eloquence.
That in this land no Lollard dar abide —
As verray support, vpholdere and eek guide 404
Sparith noon, but maketh hymsiluen strong
To punysshe all tho that do the chirch[e] wrong.
Thus is he bothe manli and eek wis,
Chose off God to been his owyn knyht, 408
And off o thyng he hath a synguler pris,
That heretik dar noon come* in his siht,
In Cristis feith he stant so hool vpriht.
Off hooli chirche diffence and champioun, 412
To chastise alle that do therto tresouw.
And to do plesauwce to our lord I^ju,
He studieth euere to haue intelligence;
Reedyng off bookis bryngith in vertu, 416
Vices excludyng, slouthe and necligence,
Makith a prynce to haue experience,
To knowe hymsilff, in many sundri wise,
Wher he trespasith his errour to chastise. 420
And a-mong bookis, pleynli this the cas, [p. 6]
This said[e] prynce considred off resoun,
The noble book off this lohn Bochas
Was, accordyng in his opynyoun, 424
Off gret noblesse and reputaciouw.
And onto pryncis gretli necessarie
To yiue exauwple how this world doth varie.
And for this cause, as in his entent, 428
To shewe thuntrust off al worldli thyng.
He gaff to me in comaundement,
As hym sempte it was riht weel sittyng,
That I shulde, afftir my cuwnyng, 432
This book translate, hym to do plesaunce,
To shewe the chauwg off worldli variaunce.
And with support off his magnificence,
Vndir the wyngis off his correccioun, 436
Thouh that I haue lak off eloquence,
I shal procede in this translacioun.
Fro me auoidyng al presumpcioun,
Lowli submyttyng eueri hour & space 440
Mi reud language to my lordis grace.
409. o] oon H. 410. come] comcn B, R.
415. studieth] studieht R. 421. this] this is R, J.
428. this cause] |)ise causes J, these causes P.
BK. 0
The Story of Adam and Eve
13
And as I haue o thyng weel in mynde,
He bad me I sholde in especiall,
Folwyng myn auctour, writen as I fynde, 444
And for no fauour be nat parciall —
Thus I meene to speke in generall,
And noon estat syngulerly depraue,
But the sentence off myn auctour saue, 448
Al this conceyuyd, I gan my stile dresse,
Thouhte I wolde in my mater proceede;
And for the mater abraid on heuynesse,
Off fressh colours I took no maner heede, 452
But my processe pleynli for to leede,
As me sempte it was to me most meete
To sette apart all rethoriques sueete.
Dites of mumyng and off compleynynge 456
Nat appertene onto Calliope,
Nor to the Muses, that on Parnaso synge,
Which be remembrid in nouwbre thries thre;
And onto materes off aduersite, 460
With ther sugred aureat licour
Thei be nat willi for to doon fauour;
But off disdeyn me settyng ferr a-bak
To hyndre me* ofF that I wolde endite, 464
Hauyng no colours but onli whit & blak,
To the tragedies which that I shal write.
And for I can my-silff no bet acquite,
Vndir support off all that shal it reede, 468
Vpon Bochas riht thus I will proceede.
Explicit prologus.
I will follow
my author
and shew
no biai.
and. at my
matter is
serious, I
shall omit all
flourishes.
Calliope and
her Sisters
cannot help
me write of
adversity,
so I will do
my best in
simple black
and white.
Incipit Liber Primus.
[|How adam and Eue for theire inobedience were
putout of paradis lyued in sorowe and
woo/thei and theire of spryng.]^
Whan lohn Bochas considred hadde & souht [p.8]
The woful fall off myhti conquerours,
A remembraunce entrid in his thouht, 472
Reknyng the noumbre off our pr^decessours,
And first to mynde cam the progenitours
463. ferr] fast H. 464. me] men B, R.
1 MS. J. leaf 3 b.
Adam and
Eve first
appear before
Bochas,
14 The Story of Adam and Eve
%lTvtl^t Off al mankynde, ferre Ironne in age,
[bk.
old age.
And toward hym holdyng the passage,
As hym thouhte in his inward siht,
In ther comyng ful pitousli tremblyng,
Quakyng for age and for lak off myht,
Ther gret feeblesse be signes out shewyng;
And oon off hem, first at his comyng —
Our fadir Adam — sodenH abraide,
And to myn auctour euene thus he saide:
A^-^
476
480
Adam said,
"It is right
that you
should begin
with us.
"The Serpent
caused our
exile from
Paradise."
Fairest of
all creatures
were they;
God gave
them the
Garden of
Eden,
[How Adam & Eue stondyng/naked before Bochas
desired him to put theire woful fall first in
remembraunce.] ^
"Cosyn Bochas, I will weel that thou lere, 484
Thou that art besi to serche ouer all
Off infortune the maner to enquere,
Hir sodeyn chaung, turnyng as a ball,
Off erthli pryncis from ther estat roiall — 488
It is most sittyng, or we assundir twynne,
At vs tweyne thi processe to be-gynne.
Considre first, the Lord in his auis,
Whan he us made onto his liknesse, 492
He putte vs bothe into Paradis,
There talyued in parfit stabilnesse —
Til the Serpent dede his besynesse
Off^fals envie to make us lese our grace, 496
Perpetueir texile us fro that place."
And whan lohn Bochas nakid hem beheeld,
Withoute the hand fourmyd off Nature, —
Off slym off therthe in Damascene the feeld 500
God made hem fairest a-boue ech creature;
And for thei sholde perpetueli endure,
Bi discrecioun for a prerogatiff
He endued hem with a soule off liff. 504
Parfit off age as man off thretti yeerp^
Putte hem afftir in possessioun
Off Paradis, a place most enteer,
485] That art so besi to serche oueral J — serchel serch out
H, P, R 3.
486. maner^ mateer H — Inquere H. 504. HeJ om. H.
^ MS. J. leaf 3 c. in margin.
BK. l]
The Slory of Adara and Eve
IS
'j^\ V 0\
And ofFdelicis a chose mansioun, 508
Where Adam made an imposicioun
To fissh and foul, and to thes beestis all,
OflF verray resoun what men sholde hem call.
Out off a rib, whil that Adam sleep, 512
Eue was drawe, ful fair off hir visage,
Al sodenly or that* he took keep,
, AiFtir to hym ioynyd in mariage
\Por his disport and his auantage, 516
So as the Lord first wyues dede ordeyne
Outher for helpe or for encres off peyne.
God onto hem gafF the souereynte
Off Paradis and dominacioun,
A place fulfellid off al felicite.
The frutis all in ther subieccioun,
SaufF that off oon was maad excepcioun,
Which God forbad, the Bible can deuise, 524
That thei sholde touche it in no wise.
All delices off that heuenli place
God gaff to hem and put in her kepyng,
To vsen hem eueri hour and space 528
To ther most ese, as was to hem likyng —
Bloomys, blosmys, ther faimesse ay hauyng,
And the frutis alway off o fresshnesse,
•For wyntir stormys myht do hem no duresse. 532
The soil enbroudid ful off somer flour<fs,
Wher weedis wikke hadde noon interesse;
For God and Kynde with fresshnesse off colour^fs
And with ther tapitis & motles off gladnesse 536
Had maad that place habounde in al suetnesse;
And fressh[e] Flora, which is off floures queene,
Hir lyuere made off a perpetuel greene.
The trees rauhten almost to the heuene, 540
Which cast a-boute a ful plesant shade.
That storm nor reyn, thundir, wynd nor leuene
No power hadde ther leuys for to fade:
and for
Adam's
advantage
Eve was
created, and
became
his wife.
All fruits in
that beautiful
were theirs
save one.
and all the
delights of
that heavenly
place were
given into
their keeping.
The soil was
embroidered
with flowers,
and the trees
grew up
almost to
the sky.
508. delicisj] delites H, delitis J, delitti?.)- R 3, delites H 5, P.
509. an] om. R. 514. that] than B, H.
516. and] and for H.
521. fulfillid H, fulfild J.
526. delices] delites H, H 5, delitt<rj R 3, delicis J, delices P.
538. which] whilk H. 541. abouten R, H.
i6
But they
foolishly ate
the fruit of
the Tree of
Life.
against God'i
command-
and brought
evil into the
world.
There were
three rivers
in Paradise,
The Story of Adam and Eve [bk. i
For euer thei wern Illch[e] fressh and glade; 544
And whan thei list, ther thei myhte see
Mid off that gardyn off lifF the holsum tre,
Which vertu hadde ageyn al maladie
Folk to preserue off youthe in ther fresshnesse^ 548
Who eet therofF sholde neuer deie,
But lyuen euere in ioie and in gladnesse,
And nouther feele trouble nor siknesse,
But in that place haue alwey hertis ese 552
And suffisauwce off al that myht hym plese,
Euer endure and neuer falle in age, [p. 9]
For which it was callid the tre off liff.
But whan Adam was fallyn in dotage 556
And ageyn[es] God gan holdyn striflF,
Thoruh excityng off hir that was his wifF,
'::" And wilfuUi gaff to hir assent
^ . To breke the precept & comandement 560
^ Off God the Lord, thoruh wilful necligence,
■ Taproche the tre, which that bar the name,
The tre off cunnyng and also off science:
For off the frut who that dede attame, 564
He sothli sholde, the Bible seith the same,
/ Off good & euell haue cuwnyng in his thouht,
\_Where-as tofforn off euyl he knew riht nouht.
Thus hadde thei first off euyl experience, 568
Where-as toforn thei knew no wikkidnesse;
Presumpciouw and inobedience
Brouht hem fro ioie into wrechidnesse:
For afor-tyme, myn auctour berth witnesse, 572
Helthe and goodnesse wer callid verray liff,
Euyl namyd siknesse, first roote of al our striff.
In Paradis, myn auctour seith certeyn,
Thre ryuers wern, so orient and fyne, 576
Lich quyksiluyr vpboilyng on the pleyn.
And in ther rennyng verray cristallyne,
Which from a welle heuenli and deuyne
550. 2nd in] om. H. 553. hym] hem R.
557. ageynes God gan holdyn] ageyn God began to holden J,
ayenst God gan to holden P.
558. excityng] encityng R. 559. gaflF] he yaue P.
562. bar] here R. 574. Euyl] 111 R 3 — namyd] namy R.
BK. l]
The Story of Adam and Eve
17
wholesome
air, all manner
of herbs and
spices, and
the sound
of birds
tinging.
The sun shone
brighter then
than it does
now,
In ther vpspryngyng and ther aualyng doun 580
Off al plesance gafF so soote a soun,*
That it wolde rauysshe a corage, —
Whos bawmy licour endued al the place,
And with the fresshnesse & cours off his passage 584
The holsum hair hertis dede embrace, —
Ther was such plente off plesance & off grace.
That eueri spice, herbe, greyn and roote
Wer founde growyng in that gardeyn soote. 588
Ther was also a delectable soun
Off song off birdis in ther armonye^
The hair was cleene from arcofupcioun,
For ther engendrid was no maladie; 593
Ther was al merthe, ther was al melodie,
OfFioie and blisse ^ouereyn suflSsance, i, f^-- >,tf, ■'''' *^^^'"
With al that may toTiertis do plesance.
And off clerkis lik as it is told 596
In ther bookis, as thei determyne,
How in his speer the sonne manyfold
Was off mor vertu & mor cleer dede shyne
Than it doth now in his mydday lyne, 600
The moone whittere with hir* bemys cleer,
And euery sterre brihtere dede appeer.
Euery thyng was there more vertuous
Than thei be now, who can beholde and see; 604
For in that place ther was nothyng noious.
But parfit gladnesse knet onto surete,
Perpetuel pes, ioie and prosperite,
And in that blisse to makyn hem mor strong, 608
To ther confort God spak with hem a-mong.
CMF his goodnesse he bar hem cumpanye,
Shewed onto hem his gracious presence,
Angelis also ther staat to magnefie 612
A-mong to serue hem dede ther dilligence
In dyuers offices with humble reuerence,
And Nature wrouhte for the nonys
Off roial purpill and off riche stonys 616
Tissues off gold and othir omamentis
For tenvirowne ther bodili beute,
581. so soote a soun] a soote soun B, R. 585. enbrace H.
601, hir] his B, R, R 3. 603. vertous R.
617. omamentis] precious stonys R (m another band).
and there was
perpetual
peace and jof .
God often
appeared to
Adam and
Eve, and
angels served
them.
i8
The Story of Adam and Eve
[bk. I
They could
have lived
there always
in celestial
joy,
had not Adam
given credence
to a Snake.
Their fall
was the more
bitter,
for It followed
felicity.
Take example
of Adam
and Eve,
Shapyng to hem such maner garnementis
As angeHs vsen in ther felicite — 620
Nakid thei wer[e]n fairest on to see;
For whil thei stood in staat off innocence,
Thei hadde off clothyng noon experience.
And off ther bHsse to make menciou«, 624
And off ther ioies that were celestiall,
Ther may be maad[e] no comparisoun
Off no ioie which is temporall,
Which sholde ha been lastynge & inmortall, 628
Euer talyued in merthe and in gladnesse,
SaufF ageyn resoun, off verray wilfulnesse
Thei banshid hemsilff out of that bhsful HfF,
Whan Adam gafF credence to a snake 632
And wrechidH gan trustyn on his wifF, V -^>A « < ■
Which gan thappill off the Serpent take,
And plesantli dede a present make
Onto Adam, as she that ferst began 636
Deth to deuyse and poisoun onto man.
But as ther ioie was incomparable, [p. 10]
Grettest ther lordship aboue al ertheli thyng.
So ther fall was to he[m] importable; 640
For he that was all other surmountyng,
In Paradis regnyng as a kyng —
Was it nat a dedli mortal peyne
Fro thilke place to haue* a fall sodeyne! 644
For thilke sorwe surmountith euery sorwe.
Which next folwith afFtir felicite;
No wo mor greuous at eue nor at morwe.
As is in deede sodeyn aduersite 648
Which cometh onwarli afftir prosperite,
Nor nothyng more may hertis disauaunce
Than ofF old ioie newe remembraunce.
Takith exaumpil ofF Adam and off Eue, 652
Makith off hem a merour in your mynde,
Wher of resoun it dede hem gretii greue
For to be put, alias, so ferre behynde
619. maner] om. R.
621. weren] wern H 5, P, were J, R 3.
628. immortall R. 629. 2nd in] om. H, J, H 5.
631. banshid] banyssht H, banysshid J. 633. on] to R.
644. thilke] that Hs — tohaue]taue B,
BK. 0
The Story of Adam and Eve
19
Out ofF that blisse, thei and al ther kynde,
Chaungyng thestat off inmortalite
And becam subiect to deth and pouerte.
Ther sodeyn chaung & ther onwar myscheefF
And ther onhappi transmutacioun, —
It was to hem ful vnkouth and vnleeff
For to departe fro thilke mansioun
That was so full off delectacioun,
Fro such delicis sodenli to goo
Into this world which is so full off woo.
There is delit, and heer is sorwe [&] care,
There is ioie, and heer is heuynesse,
There is plente, and heer is euel fare,
There is helthe, and heer is gret siknesse,
Heer trouble ay meynt with onseur gladnesse,
Ther is ay blisse and eternal glorie,*
And heere no merthe but fals & transitorie.
Alias, how thei wer blyndid in ther siht
Thoruh veynglorie* and fals ambicioun!
Thei wente wrong, thei lokid nat a-riht,
Fals couetise was ther confusioun,
Wherthoruh thei loste the dominacioun
Off Paradis, and wex bothe poore & thrall,
Ther fredam leffte and becam mortall.
Onto God thei wolde ha be semblable,
Lik onto hym good and euel to* knowe,
Arid in ther trust for thei wer nat stable,
From ther estat thei were brouht ful lower
And thus, alias, the seed was first isowe,
The roote plantid off disobeissaunce,
Which brouht our lynage to sorwe & myschauwce
Thus cam in first thoruh inobedience.
As bi a gate, pouerte and neede;
And at ther bak folwed indigence,
Sorwe, siknesse, maladie and dreede,
Exil, banshyng and seruitute, in deede,
Which causid man longe to contune
Vndir the lordshipe & daunger off Fortune.
c./L who became
°50 subject to
poverty and
death.
660
664
668
It was hard
for thera to
leave the
Garden of
Eden and its
delights.
672
676
680
684
688
693
They were
blinded by
vainglory
and brought
low.
Thus, through
disobedience,
all evils came
into the world,
sorrow,
sickness,
fear, pestilence,
death.
6^7. immortalite R. 664. delites H, R 3.
668. euelfare B. 669. gret] om. H. 670. Heer] Heere is R.
671, 2. gloire, transitoire B, transitoyre H. 674. veyngloire B.
681. to] ta B. 683. brouht] I brouht H.
20
and the
infirmities
of old age.
Adam had
to toil for
his living
in the dread
of cruel beasts,
dragons and
scorpions.
He and Eve
shed bitter
tears.
Afterwards
Cain slew
Abel,
The Story of Adam and Eve [[bk. i
Thus cam in eek maladie and deth
To dispoile mankynde off his beute,
Long siknesse and pestilence that sleth 696
Bi sodeyn strok which no man may fle; *
For onto Adam and his posterite
Deth was annexid bi successioun
For his offence, and so conueied doun 700
Fro man to man in eueri maner age.
For who list knowe, synwe brouht in shame,
Man to be feeble and feynt in his passage,
And be processe to wexen halt and lame — 704
Onto Adam this was an vnkouth game.
To be constreynyd from riche apparaile
In bareyn erthe to sekyn his vitaile.
In hungir [and] thrust heere he ladde his liff, 708
With soot, with labour and tribulaciouns.
Endured also many mortal striff,
Off hot and cold riht strauwge passiouns,
Off elementis sodeyn mutaciouws, 712
Wynd, hail and reyn feerfulli fallyng,
And onwar strokis off thundir & lihtnyng.
Thei stood also in daunger and in dreed
Off cruel beestis, tigres and leouws, 716
Off tusshi booris, who-so taketh heed,
And in gret feer off these fell dragouns,
^Thassaut off serpentis and off scorpiouns;
_ For thilke beestis that toforn were mylde, 720
) Afftir ther synnyng ful rage wex and wilde.
Wher thei stood[e] first in sekirnesse, [p. 11]
Off ioie and blisse euer in oon lastyng,
Out off ther reste thei fill in onseurnesse, 724
In sorwe and sihhyng, & dolorous pleynyng;
And fro ther eyen contynueli wepyng.
The bittir teris day be day distille.
In this desert for wantyng off ther wille. 728
And whethir wer thei sorweful or* fayn,
Long tyme afftir ther desolacioun,
Whan thei fond Abel ther owyn sone slayn
697. which] which that H 5 — fle] see B, R.
699. annexid] anvexed R. 708. and] om. H.
709. soot] seot R, swete H, swett R 3, swet P — 2nd with]
and J, H 5. 713. feerfulH] feerdfuUi J.
725. dolorous] dolours R. 729. or] outher B.
BK. i]
The Story of Adam and Eve
21
Be cruel Caym to his confusioun,
The same Caym, as maad is mencioun,
Afftir that tyme wilde and vacabounde
Til blynde Lamech gafF hym his dethis wounde.
Adam nor Eue affor that ilke tyme
Hadde neuer seyn no feste funerall,
Off chaung it was* to hem a newe pryme,
For to beholde a thyng disnaturall,
Brethre off o wombe be hatred fraternall,
The toon off herte* so feer hymselff deuyde,
Off fals malis to been an homicide.
And was it nat a peyne whan thei stood,
For to beholde ther sone pale and ded
Ligge on the ground[e], bathid in his blood,
And al the soil where he lay was red.
That whan Adam and Eue tooken heed,
It was to hem ful gret aduersite
The newe slauhtre to beholde and see.
And euer a-mong ther sihhes harde and sore,
Ther bittir wepyng and sorwes to auaunce.
Or thei wer war, ther heris wexyn hore.
And age gan ther beute disauaunce;
Ther youthe also be ful gret displesaunce
Gan tappalle, or thei it coude espie,
Be cruel constreynt and force of maladie.
And whan off youthe fallyn was the flour
Bi the processe of many hundrid yeris,
And bi the duresse off many gret labour
Thei wex onlusti and ougli off ther cheris —
Off age and deth, these be the daungeris,
To seyn chekmat, in nature it is kouth,
OntoTteute and greene lusty youth.
For whan the yeris fulli passid be
Off flouryng age, lastyng a sesoun.
Be processe, at eie men may see,
Beute declynyth, his blosmys falle doun;
And lite and litil be successioun
732
7?6 ^'^^'^^ 8»^'«
'J occasion for
the first
funeral.
740
744
.A'
^A*fVk^
748
752
hvjL> k>
kc^- tiC'-M
Their beauty
faded.
7S6
they became
dull and
nncomdy
with yeari.
760
764
768
732. Caym R, H, J, R 3, Cayrae H 5, Ca>-n P.
735. Latneth, as written in B, R, H.
738. Off chaung it wasj It was off chaung B — it was to hem]
to hem it was R 3.
741. herte] hate B, R.
752. thei] the R. 759. labour] labours R.
22
Thus Adam,
once the
fairest of
men, grew
old and died.
He was
buried in
Hebron.
His dis-
obedience
made all
men subject
to death.
The Story of Adam and Eve
Cometh croked elde onwarli in crepyng,
With his potent ful poorli manasyng.
Thus to our fadir, that callid was Adam,
Off creatures fairest off alle faire,
Afftir gret age, bi processe .deth. in cam.
And gan onwarli ascende vpon the staire
With his potent, and caste hym to repaire
With Antropos, which affor shal goon
For tuntwyne his lyuys threed anoon.
And in Ebron was maad his sepulture,
Ther afftir bilt a myhti gret cite,
Bi whos story and record off nature
I may conclude, who-so list to see.
That neuer man hadde liberte,
Sithen that Adam our Lord gan disobeye,
Ageyn[e]s deth, but that he muste deye.
Hbk. I
< '*. ^I'-i
772
776
780
784
Bochas
laments the
fate of Adam,
whose
example
teaches us
the sorrow
of the world.
For all their
pride, men
must die.
The compleynt off Bochas vpon the fall off Adam.
IN compleynyng, myn auctowr lohn Bochas
Ful pitousli in his aduertence
Bewepith, wailith, & offte seith alias,
In an appel ther was so gret offence, 788
That for a tast off inobedience,
Adam, alias, sholde ha[ue] so gret a fall,
So sodenli to deie and be mortall!
Which exauwpil ouhte I-nouh suffise, 792
In al this world[e] thouh there were no mo,
Texemplefie to folkis that be wise.
How this world is a thoruhfare ful off woo,
Lich fals Fortune, which turnyth to and fro 796
To make folkis, whan thei most cleerli shyne.
In ther estatis onwarli to declyne.
For thouh that thei her hedis leffte a-loffte
Hih as Phebus shynyth in his speer,
Thynke them-silff[e], as it fallith offte,
Ther renoun rechith aboue the sterris cleer,
And how ther fame surmountith euery speer
[p.
12]
800
775. and] om. H.
797. cleerli] clery R. 799.
801. Thynke] tenke R.
lifFt H. 800. Hih] lich R.
BK. l]
The Story of Adam and Eve
Ther trust corrupt hath a ful sodeyn fall, 804
For to declare how thei be mortall.
O worldii folk, aduertlsith off entent.
What vengaunce and what punycioun
God shal taken in his iugement , 808
For your trespas and your transgressioun.
Which breke his preceptis a-geyn al resoun!
Ye han forgoten, how with his precious blood
You for to saue he starff vpon the rood. 812
For yiff Adam for his disobeissaunce
Was bi the Lord, as hym list ordeyne,
Maad first & formyd with euery circumstaunce
Off creatures to be most souereyne, 816
Yiff that he was enbraced in the cheyne
Off seruitute, with thraldam ouerseyn,
What shal I thanne off othir folkis seyn.
That lyuyn heer in this desert off sorwe, 820
In this exil off plesance desolat,
And in this world[e], both at eue &* morwe.
Off hertili ioie stonde disconsolat,
Al destitut and eek infortunat, 824
And forpossid with wo off worldii trouble.
Ay variable and ful off chauTzgis double?
Ye nat entende but to fals couetise.
To fraude, baret and extorsioun, 828
Geyn God and trouthe in many dyuers wise,
Geyn your neihbour be fals collusioun
To doon [himj wrong and oppressioun.
And werst off all, ye rechch[e] nat be synne 832
To sle your soule, worldii good to wynne.
And yiff it falle your power be but small
Taccomplisshe your auarice in deede,
Your synful will assentith ouerall 836
Thyng to desire off which ye* may nat speede;
And thus fals lust doth your bridil leede,
Thrust off hauyng so sore you doth assaile,
Falsli afferd the world you sholde faile. 840
?3
O woridly
people, know
that God will
punish yon
as he did
Adam, most
sovereign
of men!
You draw
only to
covet ousness
and fraud,
you opprest
your fdlow
men and
slay your
own souls
for gain. If
too weak to
sin in deed,
you sin in
thought.
822. &] & at B, R, H, J, R 3.
826. ful] om. R.
831. him] om. R, H. 832. ye] the R. 834. falle] hap R3.
837. ye] thei B, om. R. 839. Thurst R, H.
840. Falsli] Fals R.
H
The Story of Adam and Eve
[bk. I
If God
chastises you
lightly, you
complain.
God do€s not
bid us prove
our might
on the
Cbimxra,
or conquer
the Golden
Fleece, or
slay the
Minotaur or
do anything
that is
impossible.
He does not
tell us to risk
our lives in
adventure as
did Hercules.
And ylfF that God, benigne and debonaire,
With his yerde off castigacioun
Chastise you but esili and faire,
Ye grucch ageyn[es] his correccioun, S44
Nothyng aduertyng in your discrecioun,
How God nat bad us, who can taken heed,
Nat for to stryue nor to wrastle in deed,
Nouther our strengthe nor our myht tapplie 848
Vpon the beeste monstruous and sauage,
Which callid is the Chymere off Licie —
SpeciaH whan he is in his rage.
Which monstre hadde to his auauntage 85a
Hed off a leoun, as bookis determyne,
Wombe off goot, and tail serpentyne,
Which was outraied off Bellofforon,
As olde poetis make mencioun. 856
Nor God bad nat that men sholde gon
Into Colchos to conquere with lason
The Flees off Gold, which in that regioun
With firi bolis off metal maad and bras, 860
And bi a dragoun ful streihtli kepid was.
God bad us nat our cuntrees for to lete
To vndirfonge thynges inpossible,
The Minotaur for to slen in Crete, 864
HalfF man, halfF bole, yifF it be credible,
Which was a monstre hatful and odible.
Whilom brouht foorth, in bookis ye may see,
Bi Minos wiff, callid Pasiphe, 868
Whos story techith, yifF ye list to lere.
This ougli beeste cruel and monstruous,
Thoruh Adriane, the kyngis doubter deere,
Was whilom slay[e]n be due Theseus 872
Withynne a caue maad be Dedalus.
God bit us nat, pleynli, for his sake.
So gret emprises for to vndirtake.
He bit us nat to been so rek[e]les 876
In pereilous deedis that been marciali
Vs to iuparte as dede Hercules,
847. to wrastle] for to wrastile R, for to wrastle H, for to
wrastill R 3.
850. callid] clepid H. 855. Bellofforon] belliferoun J.
862. bad] gaff R. 869. lere] heer H. 872. be] the R.
BK. I^
The Story of Adam and Eve
XS
Which bi the biddyng in especiall
Off Euristeus, the myhti kyng roiall, 880
Lord off Athenys, to make his honour shjme,
Lemyd off armys the famous disciplyne.
Off his preceptis yiff we han a siht [p. 13]
And remembre off his hih bounte, 884
He vs comaundith thyngis that been hht
For taccomplisshe with al humilite.
From our corage tauoide al vanite.
And from our hertis texcludyn idilnesse 888
And the fals chaung off al worldli gladnesse.
For on-taman that parfit is and stable,
Bi good resoun myn auctour doth well preue.
There is no thyng mor fair nor agreable 892
Than fynali his vicious liff to leue.
On verray God rihtfully beleue,
Hym loue and worshepe a-boue al ertheli thinges;
This passith victory off erap<frours and kynges. 896
The Lord bit eek, who* that can disceme.
Off enteer loue to doon our labour
In this liff heer so oursilff * goueme.
To fadir & moodir that we do dieu honour.
And in ther neede to doon to hem socour,
And in al vertu our frendis to conforte.
And to our power in myscheeff hem supporte.
For in this world is no thyng mor parfit, 904
Nor taccomplisshe thyng off mor plesance.
Than a man for to haue delit
In litil good to hauen suffisance.
And be content in his gouemance, 908
Voide auarice and thynkyn euer a-mong.
To his neihbour that he do no wrong.
Nat to coueite his goodis in no wise,
Hymsilff goueme lik to his estat, 912
Nat excede, but fleen and eek despise
He aaki ii«
only to ezdude
vanity and
idleneai from
our hearts.
'Sathiag
pleases a good
man more
than to do
right and
lore God.
900
\ man ihould
be content
with little
wealth, do ao
wrong to hia
neighbour.
880. Euristius R.
890. on-taman] vnto a man H, J, R 3, P, H 5.
895. ertheii] om. R.
897. bit] biddith R 3, H 5 — who] we B, R.
899. oursilff] our liff B, R. 902. comforte H.
907. hauen] haue H, R, R 3.
913. excede] to excede J, H 5 — an 1 precedes eke in H {slip
of pen).
26
and live in
continence
and peace.
He should
avoid scorn
and follow the
example of
Our Lord,
who asked
nothing more
than that we
do as he
bade us.
Let us be
better than
beasts, and
remember
that all
worldly
wealth shall
fade as a
rose,
and that
pride and
disobedience
were the
beginning
of sorrow.
The Story of Adam and Eve [^bk. I
Al maner loue which is disordynat,
HymsilfF preseruyng from contek & debat,
And speciali teschewen, it is good, 916
Slauhtre, moordre & shedyng eek off blood.
Fleen from his synne and hatyn for to lie,
OfFolde offends a-mong ha[ue] repentance,
And teschewe al scorn and moquerie, 920
Ageyn vicis doon almesse and penance,
And to haue most souere[y]nli plesance
To sue the pathes* of our Lord lesw,
Trewe exaumplaire off grace and al vertu. 924
Which for our sake and our redempcioun
And for our loue was nailid to a tre,
Suffrid peyne and cruel passiouw.
And nothyng axeth, off hih nor low degre 928
Recompensid ageynward for to be.
But that we sette al hooli our ententis
For to fulfiUe his comaundementis.
And off his grace heer in this mortal liff, 93a
As we precelle in wisdom and resouw,
And off his giffte han a prerogatiff
Toforn all beestis bi discrecioun,
Therfore lat us off hool entenciouw, 936
As we off resouw beestis ferr exceede,
Lat us forn* hem be, be woord, exaumple and deede.
Grouwde us first vpon humilite,
Our pompous eien meekli to vnclose, 940
Enclyne our hedis, and to conceyue and see
Al worldli welthe shal fadyn as a rose.
And off meek herte lat us oursilff dispose,
Bi this tragedie to ha[ue] knowlechyng 944
Off our myscheeff how roote and eek gynnyng
Was the vice off inobedience,
Surquedie and fals disobeissaunce,
As myn auctour hath shewid in sentence, 948
Enprentith it weel in your remembraunce,
Be-war* the serpent with his disseyuaunce,
920. mokrye H. 923. pathes] paththes B, R, pathis H.
932. his]om. R. 933. injofj — and]ofJ.
934. hanl and R. 936. hool] hoolde R.
938. fornj aforn MSS. — ist bej om. J — 2nd be] in H 5 —
by example word & dede R 3.
944. to haue] ta H. 950. Be-war] Beth war B, J.
BK. Q
Adam and EvCf the Envoy
27
The flessh, the world, your enmies, alle thre,
Thoruh ther treynys ye nat deceyued be.
Your beste sheeld to make resistance
Ageyn ther power sothli is meeknesse.
Your haberioun most myhti off difFence,
The feendis myht to venquysshe and oppresse,
Is to remembre deuoutH with lownesse,
How meekli Crist to paien our ransoun
Suffred on a crosse deth and passioun.
Wherbi men may, that prudent been & wis.
The ioies cleyme which been etemall,
And entre ageyn into Paradis,
Fro when[ne]s whilom Adam hadde a fall;
To which[e] place a-boue celestiall,
O Crist I^ju, so brynge us to that glory,
Which be thi deth hadde the victory!
952
956
Meekness i
your best
shield of
defence.
y- May Jesus
900 bring us
again into
Paradise!
964
[p. 14]
968
^ The lenvoye off this tragedie.
SODEYN departing out off felicite
Into miserie and mortal heuynesse,
Vnwar depryuyng of our prosperite,
Chaung off gladnesse into wrechchidnesse.
Long langwisshyng in wo and bittirnesse,
Contynuel sorwe, dreed, dool and pestilence
Were first brouht in bi inobedience.
Adam and Eue losten ther liberte,
Ther frau^chise and ther blissidnesse,
Put into exil and captyuyte
To lyue in labour, in wo and pensifnesse,
Thoruh fals desirs off pompous wilfulnesse,
To the Serpent whan thei gaff credence.
The Lord mistristyng thoruh inobedience.
But, o alias, where-as thei were fre.
Off ioie eternal stood in sekirnesse,
Thei were to blynde — alias, it was pite! —
To leue ther teste and lyue in werynesse,
AI ther ofFspryng to bryngyn in distresse,
Drawyng fro God his due reuerence
Thoruh fals consentyng to inobedience.
9S9. a] om. ], H 5.
962. entre ageyn] ageyn entre H, R, R 3. 966. the] om. H.
972. pestilence] offence H. 980. mystrustyng H.
972
976
980
984
Disobedience
turned all
joy into woe.
Thus Adam
and Eve fell,
and brought
their
offspring
into distress.
28
The Story of Nimrod
[bk. I
Princes,
beware of
insolence
and pride,
remember
that your
subjects will
deal with
you as you
deal with
them.
Wherfore, ye Pryncis, auisili doth see, 988
As this tragedie in maner berth witnesse,
Where-as wantith in any comounte
Subieccioun, for lakkyng off meeknesse,
And with pouert pride hath an interesse, 992
Ther folwith afFtir thoruh froward insolence
Among the peeple fals inobedience.
And, noble Pryncis, which han the souereynte
To gouerne the peeple in rihtwisnesse, 996
Lik as ye cherisshe hem in pes and vnyte.
Or frowardli destroie hem or oppresse,
So ageynward ther corages thei will dresse
Lowli tobeie to your magnyficence, 1000
Or disobeie bi inobedience.
Only eight
people were
saved from
the Deluge,
therefore my
author passes
over to
Nimrod.
During the
Flood all
books were
destroyed.
[How Nembroth bilt the toure of babilone to saue
him from noyous flodis which for his pride was
put fro his magnificence and his toure witTi
sodeyne levene smyten doun.]] ^
MYN auctowr Bochas, as he that vndirstood
The vengauwces & myscheuis huge
Which that God took with Noes Flood, 1004
Whan he sente an vniuersel deluge,
Ageyn[e]s which there was no refuge,
Sauf eihte personis in that mortal wo
Withynne a ship were sauyd and no mo. 1008
Wherfore myn auctour lihtli ouergoth,
Makith off that age no special remembraunce.
But passeth ouer from Adam to Nembroth,
Consid[e]ryng how in that dedli chaunce 1012
The Lord for synne took so gret vQngauwce,
That be writyng off cronique nor historie,*
Off hih nor low was lefft[e] no memorie.
For ther was lefft cronicle noon nor book 1016
Afftir the Flood, that made mencioun
Off noon auctour, who-so list to look;
991. lakkyng] lak H. 994, 6. poeple R. 1007. eihte] viij B.
1014. cronique nor historie] story nor victoire B, H, R 3,
P, stories nor victorie J; story nor victoire is altered to
croniqtt^ nor histoire in R. 1015. memoire B.
1 MS J. leaf 6 recto.
BK.
I]
The Story of Nimrod
29
1024
1028
1032
1036
For al was brouht to destruccioun
Bi a deluge, withoute excepcioun, 1020
For which myn zuctour transportid hath his stile,
And off that tyme list nothyng compile.
He fond no mater wheron he myht founde
Nor sette his foot, bi noon auctorite,
Nor no trouthe his purpos on to grounde
OfF old[e] writyng that he coude see;
For which hym thouhte, off necessite
The surplusage off al that tyme lete.
And afftir Adam with Nembroth for to meete.
And certis, lich as Bochas in this book
Remembrith first off Adam the storye.
So next in ordre he the story took
To speke off Nembroth and his surquedie.
Which heere in erthe, as bookis specefie,
Afftir the Flood his wawes gan asswage.
Was maad a lord to goueme in that age.
For whan the floodis begonne* to discrese.
And God his vengaunce gan to modefie,
Withdrouh his hand, the watir tho gan cese,
Vpon the mounteyns hie off Armenye
The shipp gan reste, the Bible can nat lye;
And in that age, callid the secounde,
Lynage off man be-gan a-geyn tabounde.
Tencrese ageyn and to multeplie,
And bi discent, in bookis ye may see
Specefied the genealogie.
How that oon Chiris, cosyn to Noe,
A man that tyme off gret auctorite.
Onto this Nembroth, the story doth assure.
The fadir was, as bi engendrure.
This Nembroth wex myhti, large and long,
Excellyng othre as off his stature,
Surquedous, hardi and riht strong,
And in his tyme gret labour myht endure,
And in his force so moche he dede assure.
so my author
found no
material until
he came to
Nimrod,
a proud king.
After the
Flood
1040
1044
1048
men began
to increase
again.
Fn TCl Nimrod "as
IF' * jJ mighty and
10-2 ^'^'
1024. foot] feot R.
1026. altered into: Of Olde writyng eke coude he nothing se, R.
1035. his] is R.
1037. begonne] began B, R, H. 1055. he] om. R.
30
called Prince
of Hunting,
feared by
man and
beast.
He began
to conspire
against God,
and thought
he would
secure him-
self against
anotl}er
Deluge
The Story of Nimrod []bk. i
That ther was noon on watir nor on lond 1056
Which durste presume his power to withstond.
And his noblesse mor to magnefie
In worldli worshepe, hi report off his glorie,*
He was caUid cheefF prynce off venerie, 1060
Desirous euer for to han victorie
Off beestis wilde, to be put in memorie
And haue a pris amongis these champiouws,
Tigres to dauwte, bores and leouws. 1064
Ther was no beeste in wodes so sauage
That durste ageyn hym make resistence;
His furious ire so mortal was and rage,
The erthe quook for feer off his presence, 1068
Til atte laste in his aduertence.
As a prynce deuoidid ofF al grace,
Ageyn[e]s God he gan for to compace.
He made a maner coniuraciouw, 1072
This froward geant, and a conspiracie.
Took his counseil bi fals coUusiouw,
His myht, his power for to magnefye,*
And his estat for to glorefie, 1076
Thouhte he wolde off his entent nat faile
God and the heuene proudli to assaile.
That maugre God, which [that] gouernyth all.
He thouhte he wolde proudli take on honde, 1080
Ageyn deluges, yifF any falle shall,
OfF prouidence pleynli hem withstonde,
HymsillF tassure & make a place on londe
That sholde hym keepe & been to hym difFenge 1084
Bothe a-geyn God and watris violence.
And that thei myhte acomplisshe ther entent
Lich ther desir, thei dedyn ther labour,
Took ther couwseil al be oon assent, 1088
Chose Nembroth ther due, ther gouernour
Hem to conveie and doon to hem socour, "^
To been ther guide, afForn as thei were war,
Toward a contre which callid is Sennar, 109a
1058. his] om. R.
1059, 61, 62. glo'"'
1075. magnefye
1079. which {)at
R.
loire, victoire, memoire B, R,
{] multeplie B, J, H 5, R.
t H; R, R 3, H 5, P agree wh
.1
agree with B.
BK. 0
Tbr Story of Nimrod
In compas wise rouwd a-boute closid
With a gret flood namyd Eufrates.
Ther straunge foli which thei han purposid,
For to fulfiUe thei wer nat rek[e]les: 1096
This to seyne, thei put hemsilfF in pres.
So hih a tour for to edefie,
Which that sholde surmounte a-boue the skie,
That thei sholde greued be no more, noo
With no deluge brouht to destruccioun.
Nor that watres may nat greue hem sore,
This was the fyn off ther entenciouw.
And off that tour & myhti strong dongoun, 1104
Geyn God and floodis hemsiluen to assure.
The heihte and largesse were off o mesure.
Thus off Nembroth encresen gan the name;
And in the peeplis reputacioun, 1108
Off gold and richesse he hadde so gret a fame,
Thei callid hym god in ther opynyoun.
Most eurous, most myhti off renoun.
The world al hool vndir his obeissaunce, 1112
As god and lord he took the gouernauwce.
Vndir whos myht the peeple gan proceede.
He as a lord hauyng inspeccioun,
Pershyng the bowell[s] off the erthe in deede 1116
To make myhti ther fundacioun;
And off fals glory and veyn ambicioun.
This proude Nembroth in his appetit,
To seen hem werke hadde ful gret delit. 11 20
His ioie was and his inward gladnesse
To beholde so gret a cumpanye
Percen the erthe bi so gret depnesse,
To make the ground[e] strong bi masounrye, 1124
The werk vpward for to fortefie,
With many a ston, huge & large off weihte,
Thei han it reisid vp in the heir off heihte.
And fynali bi mediacioun 1128
Off this gret werk Nembroth wex famous,
Takyng in herte gret consolacioun,
1099. that^ om. H.
II 16. bowett R 3, H, bouel R, bowels J, bowelles H 5, bowels P.
1 1 23. P^fsyng H.
31
by building
a high tower.
Nimrod's repu-
tation grew;
he was con-
sidered a
god, and
governed the
whole world.
He rejoiced
in the build-
ing of his
tower.
and in his
riches and
fame.
32
The Story of Nimrod
[bk. I
The tower
was called
Babel, but
now it is
the lair of
serpents and
the air about
it is in-
fected.
Yet it rises
to the stars
so mightily
that no liv-
ing creature
ever saw
another like
it.
Nimrod grew
proud and
thought him-
self the equal
of God.
who thereupon
knocked down a
great part of his
tower and killed
bis workmen.
That be report he was so glorious,
Off so gret myht & off port so pompous, 1132
That he was so myhti, riche and strong
To reise a tour, so wid, so large, so long.
For to this day touchyng the grete myht [p. 16]
Off this tour, which Babel yit men call, 1136
Men fro ful ferr may han therof a syht.
For it surmouMtith othir touris all.
Off which[e] werk thus it is befall.
Off serpentis and many a gret dragoun 1140
It is now callid cheefF habitaciouw,
That no man dar, as ferr as thei it see,
For wikkid heir and for corrupcioun,
Bi a gret space and hi a gret contre 1144
Approche no neer that merueilous dongoun,
So venymous is that mansioun
And so horrible, no man dar approche,
Lik to a mounteyn bilt off a craggi roche. 1148
And as men seyn that haue had ther repair.
This tour atteynyth onto the sterris cleer.
And transcendith the regioun off the hair.
The ston, the syment wer maad off such mateer, 1152
And the ioynyng so stedfast and enteer,
Thouh fir and watir bothe it dede assaile,
Ful lite or nouht ther power sholde auaile.
It was maad so myhti to endure, 1156
So weel assurid be disposicioun.
That in this world no lyuyng creature
Sauh neuer noon lik in comparisouw;
Whos reryng up was cheeff occasiouw, 1160
And the richesse off the masounrye,
Wherthoruh Newbroth off pride and surquedie
Dempte proudli, as in his auys.
He transcendid all othre in noblesse, 1164
Thouhte hymsilff most myhti & most wis,
Felawe to God, as be liklynesse.
But God, that can al worldli pride oppresse.
And make pryncis eclipsen in ther glory, 1168
Such as truste in thyngis transitory —
The same Lord off his eternal myht.
This tour which Nembroth list to edefie,
He made with thondir & with leuene liht 1172
BK. i]
The Story of Nimrod
33
TherofF to falle a ful gret partie;
The boistous wyndis and the rage skie,
And Goddis power on the tother side,
Gan thus a-bate a parcel off his pride. 1176
And in discence and fallyng off the stonys,
Off the werkmen ful many a man was ded,
And oppressid, ther bak Ibroke and bonys,
The masounry with ther blood was red: 1180
Yit proude Newbroth, that of this werk was hed.
With al these signes his Lord ne list nat knowe,
For which his pompe was afftir brouht ful lowe.
But Nimrod,
angry and
undaunted.
But in his errour procedith forth off newe,
Thouhte he wolde gete hymselff a name,
Off malencolie gan chaunge look and hewe.
And gan also attempten and attame.
For to encrece and magnefie his fame,
A newe tour to edefie a-geyn,
Lik as God hadde be blynd & nothyng seyn.
He wolde haue rauht up to the sterris seuene
Bassent off hem that gan hym first counsaile,
Robbid God, & from hym rauht the heuene;
But who presumeth the Lord aboue tassaile,
It were no resoun that he sholde auaile:
Pryncis may weel ageyn hym crie loude,
But his power may clipse with no cloude.
For in the middis off his grete emprises.
This proude Nembroth makyng his masouns
For to compasse and castyn there deuises,
Gemetriens in ther dyuysiouns, —
But God that hath his inspecciouns,
Seyng thentent off eueri ertheli man.
As he that is most myhti and best can
Ageyn ther malis make resistence,
Ther worldli power, ther domynacioun
Off his onchaungable & most magnificence
1 174. rage] Ragous H, ragious R 3, P.
1 1 88. fame] name H.
1 197. clipse] clippe R.
1 199. masouns] mansiouns H.
1201. Gemetriens] Geometrj^ens R, Geometries H 5, Geme-
tries J, Geraetriciens R 3, Gemetriens H, P.
itarted to
build a new
tower.
He would
have snatched
the heaveni
from God,
1 184
1 188
II92
II96
but God
know* the
1200 mindi of all
men.
1204
34
The Story of Nimrod
[bk. I
and can
punish the
pride of
princes.
God made a
confusion of
tongues
and divided
the hearts of
the work-
They quar-
relled with
one another
and forsook
the land of
Shinar.
Nimrod's
efforts were
in vain.
He can chastise and ouerwhelme doun — 1208
The pride off pryncis in eueri regioun,
Bexauwple off Nembroth, a-noon as ye shal heer,
Whos pompe rauhte a-boue the stems deer.
For whan his werkmen stood at auauntage, 1212
And most were besi to his entencioun,
And to-fortyme spak al o language,
Al sodenli be transmutacioun
Ther was off tunges maad a dyuysioun, 1216
That in ther werkyng as thei gan abraide,
No man wiste what that othir saide.
And it is likli accordyng with resouw, [p. 17]
So as the chaung was maad off ther languages, 1220
So off ther hertis was maad dyuysiouw,
Bothe off ther will, and off ther corages;
And in descendyng off ther werkyng stages,
Ther was such chaung off brother onto brother, 1224
Lik strauMgers noon knew thentent off other.
Myn auctour trowith that this dyuersite
Was for ther gilt causid be vengauwce,
And ellis God off riht and equite 1228
Disposid hath in his ordenauwce
To been a-mong hem so gret a variauwce,
That thoruh the world thei sholde hewself deuyde,
And from Nembroth disseuere & nat a-bide. 1232
Thei gan a-noon a-mong hemsilff disdeyne
To accepte this Nembroth for ther kyng;
Yit a-mong hem, in soth ther wer nat tweyne
Oon off a-nother that hadde cleer knowyng, 1236
Nor off ther speche that knew the pleyn menyng:
For which the contre off Sennar thei forsook,
And ech off hem a sondri contre took.
Thei departid, made no lengere spacis,
Folwyng the fortune off ther dyuysioun,
And gan to chese hem newe duellyng placis
In the parties off many a regioun;
And thus Nembroth was pryued & put doun.
And off Babel, the myhti famous tour,
He was no lengere callid possessour:
1240
1244
1220. maad] om. H.
1244. thus] this H.
BK. Q The Story of Nimrod 35
. For a-geyn the pride off this Nembroth ^'a^TI,'^'^
rroward fortune gan hir cours to vane, 1248
And God also was in maner wroth.
Off surquedie that he was so contrarie;
And for the place was wilde and solitarie
Off this Sennar, furious and sauage, 1252
Nembroth gan feeble & falle into gret age.
And 5at summe bookis off hym specefie, b^kf"'
He wix froward off his condicioun, ^« '^»» ^^
And was first ground off ydolatrie 1256 idolatry.
And fyndere up off fals relegioun,
Causyng peeplis to haue openyoun
Goddis to worshepe in paganysme wise,
Foundour off rihtis and off fals sacrefise. 1260
Toward Perce he ches his duellyng-place.
Which contre is in the orient; h^ ^^^ ^^
That his lordship sholde strecch a gret[e] space, •""* '"* ^'^^
He bounded hym into the Occident: 1264
For Perce-lond haueth his extent
Toward the parties of the Rede Se;
And this land Perce, who-so list [to] see.
As bookis olde remembre and put in mvnde — 1268 /"'^ 7H.
TT I r> • 1 • '''°'° Media
rlow that rerce costeieth enviroun » Gennany.
Septemtrion and the grettere Inde
And many a-nothir myhti regioun,
Wher Nembroth first hadde domynacioun, 1272
Which extendith, as bookis specefie,
Out off Mede into Germanye.
But in lordshipes, as myn auctour seith. There u no
Withoute that vertu be ther trewe guide, 1276 •of'^sbip"'*
In hem ther is suraunce noon nor feith — grodneL.
Thyng that passith, which may no while abide;
Wherfore Bochas, in despit off pride
And in rebukyng off all folkis proude, 1280
Makyng his compleynt crieth to hem ful loude:
1255. wix B, R, wexe J, wexe H 5, P, wex R 3.
1265. haueth] hath H. J.
1267. this] his this R.
1280. in]om. H.
1281. Makyng] Maketh R.
36
An Exclamation against Proud Men
[bk. I
You who
are proud,
who trust to
reign long,
build your
huge castles,
let your men-
at-arms keep
watch,
as if God
were unable
to take
vengeance
on you!
Set before
your blind
eyes the
pride of
Nimrod.
Though your
power be
great, God
will con-
found ycm.
f The mater ageyn l)e pride of princis.
[An exclamacioun of Bochas ageyn al proude men/
shewyng how god may them and theire pride
whan him best list by many dyuers menes and
wayes punysshe & chastise.] ^
YE all proude, most royall in yoi^r flouris,
Which that most truste for to regne longe,
Dressith up yo^^r rochis & your touris, 1284
And ageyn God make your-siluen stronge,
And lat your power proudll vndirfonge
Your-silfF with pride for to magnefie,
Ageyns the heuene to holden chauwpartie. 1288
Beeldith your castelHs, reiseth hem vp on heihte
Off adamantis [with iren] stronge Ibounde,
With squar[e] stonys, large & huge off weihte,
Reise up yo^r wallis, most myhti and profouwde, 1292
And shet your dongouws with myhti cheynys rounde.
Let men off armys, who-euer wake or sleepe,
Nyht & day your wacch so streihtli keepe,
As God nor man, in your opynyouws, [p. 18]
Your forteressis ne myhte nat assaile.
Your castellis nor your stronge dongouns
Stujffid with men and plente off vitaile,
Lik to stonde euere and neuere for to faile,
As God nat myhte a-geyn your fals puissauwce
Whan-euer hym list off riht. to do vengaunce!
Settith afforn your eyen that be blynde
The monstruous werk off grete Babilouw;
The pride off Nembroth ther was put behynde,
Maugre his myht, and his tour smet doun:
For al the crafft off werkman or masoun
Destroied was with a sodeyn leuene,
Tauenge his pride sent a-dou« fro heuene.
For thouh your strengthes so assurid be,
That noon engyn may therto atteyne,
Gunne nor buwbard hi no subtilite,
1296
1300
1304
1308
1290. with iren] om. B, R, H, R 3, P;
bounde H 5.
1293. myhti cheynys] cheynes myhti R.
1289,98. CastettH.
13 12. Bombard H.
^ MS. J. leaf 7 verso.
13"
with Irons stronge
BK. l]
An Exclamation against Proud Men
37
Shot off arblast nor touch off dundeyne;
Yit God that is lord and souereyne,
Which lich desertis can bothe spille and saue,
Mai al confounde with an erthe-quaue.
Myn auctour axith, what castel or what tour
May be so strong[e] maad in any wise,
But that be mene off sum fals tretour,
Or be sum weie that he can deuise,
Jt may be lost or sold for couetise
And delyuered, for al ther stronge bondis.
Into the power off enmyes hondis.
Or bi sum other sodeyn auenture,
Castellis, citees and many a riche toun
Han been lost; thei myhte hem nat assure
For to resiste a-geyn[e]s fals tresoun:
Summe ha be lost eek bi rebellioun;
And alle these menys, the trouthe to be-gynne,
Ys but punshyng which God sent for synne.
God hath a thousand handis to chastise,
A thousand dartis off punycioun,
A thousand bowes maad in vnkouth wise,
A thousand arblastis bent in his dongoun,
Ordeyned echon for castigacioun;
But where he fynt meeknesse & repentaunce,
Mercy is maistresse off his ordynaunce.
Ye that be wise, considreth how the roote
Off vicis alle is pride, ye may weel see;
Pullith hym doun and put hym vndir foote
And tak your counseil off humilite:
And yff ye list [to] stonde in surete,
Beeldith in herte for mor sekimesse
A tour off vertues groundid on meeknesse,
Whos masonrie is off no costage,
Off vertues ground and souereyne,
Blast off wy^ndis and off wedris rage.
Nor no tempest hasti nor sodeyne,
Pompe nor host, thouh thei doon her peyne,
1316
1320
1332
T-Zi^
1340
1344
1^8
TLe strongeat
c^ castles
may be lost
by treasm
1324
1328
or rebeilk>a.
God can
punish if he
wili, and
shew mercy
where he
find* re-
poitance.
Pride Is the
root of all
vices; build
in your
hearts a
tower of
It will stand
fore\-er.
13 13. aroweblast J, arrowblast H 5 — dundejTie] dundeyne R,
Dondeyn H, don^dejne J, doudeyn R 3, dundayn H 5,
dondine P. 1325. Castetl H.
1335. echon ordej-ned H. 1342. to] om. H, R.
38
An Exclamation against Proud Men
[bk. I
Meekness
conquers all
worldly
troutle.
She may be
sorely tried,
but she will
win in the
end.
This vertu meeknesse for to vndirmyne, —
Thei be to feeble to make hire for tenclyne.
For wher meeknesse is groundid verraily, 1352
Thouh he sumwhile feele aduersite,
He passith ouer and sufFreth paciently
And venguisshith al maner enmite,
Thassaut also and the contrariouste 1356
OfF infortune, and ofF worldli trouble,
And off victory conquereth a palme double.
And thouh meeknesse a-myd the flodis flowe
OfF worldli myscheefF and persecucioun, 1360
Whil Pacience in hir boot doth rowe,
Thouh froward wawes posse hir up & douw,
A calm shal folwe ofF consolacioun,
Whan Sterne wyndis ther blastis ha[ue] leid lowe, 1364
The name ofF meeknesse shal shewe & be knowe.
She may be troublid, but ouercome neuere;
But for a tyme she may sulFer werre,
But atte eende she venquisshith euere, 1368
On londe and se, wher she be nyh or ferre:
To the hauene ofF lyfF she was our lodesterre,
I take record on the humylite
OfF Mary, so blissid mut she be. 137a
The roote ofF meeknesse flourith up so faire,
Whos beute dredith no tribulaciouns;
In somer, wyntir his flouris nat appaire,
And hir frut last in al maner sesouns: 1376
Pride may assaile with his bostful souns.
But fynaly for hir encres ofF glorie.
With humblesse she wynnith the victorie.
You who
have read
this tragedy,
take heed to
Meekness,
[Lenvoy.]
OFOLKIS all that this tragedie reede, [p. 19] 1380
Haueth to meeknesse a-mowg your adu^rtence,
OfF proude Nembroth also takith heede,
How that he fill from his magnificence,
Onli for he be sturdi violence 1384
List off malis the myhti Lord assaile,
But in such caas what myht his pride auaile?
135 1, for tenclyne] to inclyne H, the entire line is written in
a later hand. 1370. our] Jie J, the H 5.
1371. on]ofFR. 1381. Haueth] hath H.
BK. l]
Saturn and the Process of Time
39
Noble Pryncis, which that this world posseede,*
Ye that be famous off wisdam and prudence,
And han so many subiectis, that you dreede,
In gouemaunce vndir your excellence,
Lat your power with meeknesse so dispence,
That fals[e] pride oppresse nat the poraile.
Which to your noblesse so moche may auaile.
Pride of Nembroth dede the bridil leede,
Which hym conueied to gret insolence;
Pride apperteneth nothyng to manheede,
Sauf in armys to shewen his presence —
Wherfore honour, laude and reuerence
Be to meeknesse, that hath the gouernaile
Off alle vertues man may most auaile.
1388
1392
1396
1400
[Bow many yeres was betwixt Adam and Nembroth
and betwixt Nembroth and Cadmus and of other
kynges.] ^
THESE olde poetis with ther sawes swete
Ful couertli in ther vers do feyne.
How olde Satwme was whilom kyng of Crete,
And off custum dede his besy peyne,
Off his godhed list for to ordeyne
That he sholde, as off his nature,
Echon deuoure as by his engendrure.
In this mateer shortli to soiourne,
To vndirstonde off poetis the processe,
Thei meene pleynli that this woord Satume
Doth in it-silff nothyng but tyme expresse;
And philisophres here also witnesse.
That as in tyme, foorth eu<fry thyng is brouht,
So tyme ageynward bryngith eu<rry thing to nouht.
Clerkis recorde eek in ther writyng,
Vndir support as I dar reherse, 1416
How that fir wastith euery thyng.
And iren hard doth nesshe thynges perse;
Yiff auht a-bitt that they may nat transuerse,
Yit comyth tyme, and bi contynuaunce,
And al consumeth with his sharp[e] launce.
1404
1408
1412
1420
and, Princei,
let not your
pride oppress
the poor.
Remember
the pride of
Nimrod.
Saturn was
once king of
Crete. He
devoured his
children as
they were
born.
His name
means time,
which brings
all things to
nought.
and is more
powerful
than iron
or fire.
1387. posseede] do^) posseede B, R, do possede J, He — that]
OOT. j, H5. 1403. was] om. H. 1407. engendrure] engendure R.
141 1, it-silff] t)e silff H. 1416. I is misplaced afur reherse R.
1 MS. J. leaf 8 recto.
40
Time destroys all Things
[bk. I
TTie passing
of years
causes the
greatness of
men to fade.
Their names
are forgotten.
Time wastes
and destroys
all things.
In the
earliest age
Fortuna was
steadfast.
From the
time of
Adam to
Nimrod noth-
ing notable
happened.
His sharp[e] toth of consumpcioun
In stille wise doth his besi cure
For to anentise, in conclusiouw, 1424
Alle thynge that is brouht foorth bi Nature,
Bi long abidyng thei may hem nat assure;
For olde thyngis deuourid men may see,
Fer out off mynde, as thei neuer had be. 1428
Who can or may remembre in any wise
The glorious prowesse off these pryncis olde.
Or the noblesse of philisophres wise,
Or off poetis the feynyng to onfolde: 1432
Processe off yeris, alias! as I you tolde,
Deuoured hath ther fame and ther noblesse,
Derkid ther renoun bi foryetilnesse.
Thus off ther namys is lefft no memory, 1436
Tyme* with his rasour hath doon so gret vengance,
Shauen a-wey the honour and the glory
Off many a noble, ful myhti off puissance.
That there is lefft now no remembrance 1440
Off pryncis, poetis, nor off philisophres;
For whan that deth nailed hem in ther cofres, •
Kam tyme vpon, and bi processe off yeeris
Ther memory hath duskid and ther mynde, 1444
And reuolucioun off the heuenli speeds,
Bi offte turnyng ther glory hath lefft behynde:
Thus euery thyng which subiect is to Kynde,
Is* in this liff withoute mor auauntage 1448
Wastid with tyme and processe off long age.
In the firste age from Adam to Noe,
Prudent listres, which list in bookis reede,
Fynde off Fortune no mutabilite, 145a
Nor off hir chaungis took[e] tho noon hede;
But from Adam ther reknyd been in deede
Onto Nembroth, bi turnyng off the heuene,
A thousand yeer, seuene huwdrid and elleuene. 1456
In which[e] space, who that considreth weel,
Ther be no thyngis write in special,*
Digne off memorie nor spoke off neueradeel,
1424. aventisshe J, anentissh H 5. 1432. feynyng] feyng R.
1437. Tyme] Tymes B, R. 1443- and] om. R.
1445. And] And the R — the] om. R.
1448. Is] As B, R. 1450. to] vn to H. 1457. considre H.
1458. write] writen R — special] especial B.
BK. i] Fixoses and Tbanaus 41
Which that be notable nor historial; 1460
But fro the tyme Nembroth hadde a fal,
Onto Cadmus the yeeris to contene,
Thei were a thousand, foure hundrid & fourtene.
Touchyng [this] Cadmus, as Bochas list Uie'fim'SSg
tendite, [p. 20] 1464 "^ ^gypt.
It is rehercid bi rethoriciens.
How oon Vixoses, in bookis as thei write,
Was maad first kyng off the Egipciens,*
Where philisophres & nygromanciens 1468
Gan first tabounde ther renoun to auaunce,
Nachor that tyme hau>Tig the gouemaunce
Off the Hebreus, as maad is mencioun — ^^^^
Afftir Nembroth, bi trewe rehersaile, 1472 ^* J'"-
Thre hundred yeer bi computacioun.
Four score & tuelue, which tyme, it is no faile, lu^EBTtr?
That Vixorses gan to werre & eek bataile might of
Off volunte geyn straunge naciouns, 1476 his name
And to conquere citees, burwes [&] touns. foi^nen.
Bi force onli, withoute title off riht,
He wan al Egipt to encrece his name;
But for al that, who list to haue a siht, 1480
There is now lefft no report off his fame,
Sauf Bochas writ, how he first dede attame
His myhti conquest off entencioun
That the glory and the hih renoun 1484
Ascryued were onto his worthynesse, |^^ ^^ei
And the residue and the surplusage S^SJ^
Off gold, off tresor, off good & off richesse
Tume sholde to comoun auauntage 14SS
Off al his peeple, that euery maner age
Reporte myhte, it was to hym mor nerre
Boue syngulerte his comoun to preferre.
q Eek Thanaus off Cithie first kyng, 1492 'S^^^
Whan Saruch was duk & souereyne ' Scythu.
Ouer* the lewes, be record off writyng, —
1463. foure] iiij B. 1464. this] om. R, H.
1467. The gipciens B. 1470. Nakor H. 1474. twelue] xij B.
1475. Vixorses B, R, Vixoses J, H, H 5, P, vixioses R 3 —
werre] werrej' H.
1479. to encrece] tencres of H, to encrease of P, to thencrece
R 3. 1481. fame] name R. 1491. s\-ngulert R.
1492. Thanaus] tanaus R, Thonans J, Thomvs H, Thomas
H 5, P, thanas R. 3. 1494. Ouer] Euer B, R.
42
Zoroaster and Ninus
I^BK. I
His name too
is forgotten.
Of Zoroaster
we know
nothing, ex-
cept that he
laughed the
hour he was
born.
Ninus was
another
conqueror.
Such men
are never
satisfied until
finally
Fortune
casts them
down.
Too hundred yeer, sexti and eek tweyne
AfFtir Nembroth, this Tanaus gan ordeyne 1496
A myhti power and a strong bataile
Hem off Cithie proudli to assaile,
Conqueryng fro thens onto the ile
CalHd Ponto, in ful cruel wise: 1500
And thouh his lordship last nat but a while,
Al that he wan, it was for couetise;
And as Bochas doth off these folk deuise,
Processe off yeris, for al ther gret puissauwce, 1504
Hath put ther namys out off remembraunce.
^ Zorastres eek, for al his grete myht.
Off Bactrians kyng and possessour,
Lord off Trace and a ful manli knyht, 1508
OfF all his dedis and off his gret labour.
Off his conquest nor off his gret honour
Is nothyng lefFt, off writyng us beforn,
Sauf that he louh the hour whan he was born. 1512
He began ful soone to be merie.
With sodeyn lauhtir at his natyuyte;
And worthy Nynus, that was kyng oflF Assirie,
Expowned his lauhtre to gret felicite, 1516
The which[e] Nynus wan many a strauwge cuntre,
And day be day his power gan encrese.
For which he wolde off his conquest nat cese.
For this the maner off these conqueroures: 1520
Whan thei haue had in armis o victorie,
Thei do ther myht, ther peyne & ther laboures
With newe emprises to be put in memorie;
For ther corages, supprisid with veynglorie, 1524
Can nat be stille content in ther estat
Til her parodie sey to hem chek-maat.
Fortune ofF armys, in bookis ye may reede.
With a fals lauhtre on folkis thouh she smyle, 1528
She froward euere, or thei can takyn heede,
OfF hit nature will falsly hem be-gyle;
Conquest bi werre lastith but a whyle,
1496. Tanaus] thauance P, Thomvs H, Thomas H 5.
1499. onto] In to H. 1500. Ponto] Ponte J.
1506. Zorastres] Zorastes R j, Zoroastres P, Zorastees R.
1511. toforn H. 1513. fulj wol R.
1520. maner] mateer R.
1528. a] om. R — folkis] bookis H.
BK. l3
Zoroaster and Ninus
43
For who bi deth doth sturdi violense, 1532
God will bi deth his vengaunce recompense.
^ This worthy Nynus gan myhtili preuaile
A-geyn Zorastres, off whom I spak tofore;
For he with hym fauht last in bataile, 1536
In which Nynus hath hym so weel Ibore,
That Zorastres hath the feeld Ilore.
And he was auctour, as bookis specefie,
Off fals magik and off nygromancie. 1540
He fond the nature off euery element,
Ther kyndeli werkyng & ther mutaciouns,
The cours off sterris & off the firmament,
Ther influencis, ther disposiciouns, 1544
Ther aspectis and ther coniuncciouns,
Wrot in peleris deuised off metall
The seuene sciencis callid liberall.
Eek in pilers off brik ful harde Ibake, [p. 21] 1548
Which were up set, longe, large & huge.
He gan eek write hem & to vndirtake
To make hem seur, as for ther refuge.
That thei sholde be flood nor [no] deluge 1552
Diffacid been, as off ther scripture.
But in ther grauyng perpetueli endure.
But thouh Zorastres this crafft first out fond,
Ful lite or nouht to hym it myhte auaile;
And thouh he were a good knyht off his bond,
He was off Nynus slay[e]n in bataile,
Loste his rewm and royal apparaile;
And Nynus deide withynne a litil throwe,
But in what wise the story is nat knowe.
^ Eek Moides kyng off Sodomee,
I fynde off hym no memory be writyng,
Sauff in a story, as men may reede and see.
He and his peeple were fre in ther lyuyng;
But he that was off Assiriens kyng,
Thoruh fals Fortune, that can so offte varie.
To Babiloyne made hem tributarie.
Ninui de-
feated
Zoroaster,
who wrote
books o£
magic.
1556
i=;6o
1564
and caused
the seven
sciences to
be inscribed
on strong
pillars, tnat
they might
endure
forever.
But Nina*
slew him
in battle,
and looa
after he
also died.
The people oi
Sodom were
free in their
living.
1568
IS35- A-geyn] geyn H — to forn/r H.
1548. brik] breke H.
1552. no] om. R, H 5.
1554. endure] to endure R.
1567. ofFten H.
1537. bom/ H.
44
Moses and Pharaoh
[]bk. I
Pharaoh and
his men were
drowned in
the Red Sea,
but Moses
and the Jews
passed safely.
In Exodus
we read
about the
Twelve
Plagues,
and how the
Jews robbed
the Egyptians.
Pharaoh pur-
sued them,
but lost his
life because
he was
proud and
obstinate.
^ We han eek sey[e]n and rad also
The vengaunces and the pestilence
Doon in Egipt to kyng Pharao,
For that he made a maner resistence 1572
Ageyn[e]s God, off wilful necligence;
Therfore his peeple vpon a day and he
Were dreynt echon amyd the Rede Se.
The peeplis off God lad be Moyses, 1576
Withoute trouble off any maner wawe,
Wente echon sauf in quiete & in pes;
And Pharao, as he gan afFtir drawe
Hem to pursue, bi a ful mortal lawe, 1580
In his pursut froward and atteynt,
A-mong the wawes with his host was dreynt.
In Exodo ben the menciouns
Ceriousli put in remembrauwce, 1584
The twelue plages and persecuciouns
In Egipt doon, bi ful gret vengaunce;
And off ther tresor & ther gret substauwce
Thei were despoilid bi Hebreus, it is told, 1588
Off ther vesselis off siluer & off gold.
And out off Egipt ful gret tresor thei ladde,
Such as thei thouhte myhte hem most auaile;
And Pharao, I fynde that he hadde 1592
Too huwdrid charis enarmyd for bataile,
Hem to pursue and proudli to assaile,
And fifti thousand, in whom ther was no lak,
Off men off armys folwyng on horsbak. 1596
Too hundred thousand off footmen hym aboute,
And off Egipt al this cheualrie;
And Pharao with al [t]his gret[e] route
Gan Israel pursuen off envie, 1600
But for his pride and fals surquedie.
He and his peeple wer drownyd euerichon,
Off al his nouwbre ther was lefft nat oon.
His froward herte a-geyn God indurat, 1604
Fulfillid off malis and obstynacie,
And [in] his purpos proud and obstynat:
1569. eek] om. J, H 5.
1576. peeplis] peeple H. 1579- gan] can R.
1583. exodi J, Exody P, H 5.
1585. twelue] xijB. 1606. in] ow. R.
BK. f\
Ogygus of Thebes
45
These foule vicis, or he koude hem espie,
From his glory and his regalie 1608
He was cast doun, thouh he tofForn was crownyd,
A-myd the se a-mong his peeple drownyd.
[Off Oggigus, kyng of Thebes.] ^
^ A-nothir prynce caUid Oggigus,
Kyng off Thebes, as bookis determyne.
And foundour was, thus Bochas tellith us,
Off a cite calHd Eleusyne,
Which stant in Grece, whos power to declyne
Ther fill a flood in that regioun,
Which ouerflowed ful many a royal toun.
And in Achaia it dede most damage,
Tyme off lacob, the patriark notable;
And this deluge with his wawes rage
Slouh lordis manye, & pryncis honurable:
For dame Fortune is so deceyuable.
That she sumwhile, whan she list disdeyne.
Can folk assaile with a flood sodeyne.
This flood also, where it dede assaile,
Wastid comys bothe crop and roote,
Causid also scarsete off vetaile.
That many a man felte ful vnsoote;
The pore nat wiste wher to fynde boote.
For ther pryncis supprisid were with dreed,
Thoruh lak off vitaile in that grete need.
Ogygus
founded
Eleusis ia
Greece,
1612
1616
where there
was a great
flood in the
- time of
1020 Jacob.
1624
1628
[Off a grete Flood in Tessalie.] *
fl Anothir flood there was in Thessalie, [p. 22] 1632
In the tyme whan kyng Amphioun
Heeld the sceptre and the regalie
Vpon Thebes the myhti stronge toun,
Beside the kyngdam off Semalioun, 1636
This same tyme, this flood, ful dout[e]les,
Whan Goddis peeple was lad be Moises.
With this flood the land hadde be deuourid
Off Thessalie, and al that regiouw, 1640
But on Pemaso the peeple was socourid.
1639. the] this H.
^ MS. J. leaf 9 recto.
There wa«
another flood
in Thessaly,
but the
people found
refuge on
the hills of
Parnassus.
* MS. J. leaf 9 verso.
46
The Story of his
[bk. I
During
Cecrops'
reign in
Athens, there
was a plague
of heat
called the
Embracing
of Phaeton.
I sis, daughter
of Prometheus,
married Apis,
king of
Argos.
She was very
beautiful
and a ward
of her uncle
Epimetheus.
Jupiter fell
m love with
her
And on the rochis that stoden enviroun
Fond ther refut, to ther sauaciouw,
And gret socour, til the flodis rage 1644
Gan disencrece, withdrawen & asswage.
^ In olde stories ye may also see,
Whan Cicraps hadde first possessioun
Off Athenes the myhti strong cite, 1648
An heete ther fill in that regeoun.
Be influence that descendid doun
From all the bodies aboue celestiall.
Which likli was for to deuouren all. 1652
And this hete engendrid off the suwne,
In dyuers cuntrees, bothe in lengthe & breede.
Hath his cours so myhtili begunwe
That many folkis fillyn in gret dreede — 1656
Ryuers, wellis, who that list taken heede,
Consumed were and dreied up echon,
The hete callid thenbracyng off Pheton.
[]Off goodly Isis, Wiff to Apys kyng of Arg3rue slajm
bi his broJ)er T3^eus.] ^
^ We haue eek rad in stories heer-tofForn, 1660
How that Ysis to Egipt took hir fliht
Out off Grece, the trewe doubter born
Off Promotheus, a ful manly knyht;
And this Ysis in euery manwys siht 1664
So fressh, so goodli, weddid bi hir lyue
To worthi Apis, that was kyng off Argyue.
The which Ysis, excellyng off beute,
Afftyr tyme hir fadir was Igraue, 1668
She was Iput for mor surete
With hir vncle, that sholde keepe & saue
This seid[e] maide, that no man sholde hir haue;
And hir vncle, in Ouyde ye may see, 1672
Lik as he writ, was callid Epymethe.
And flouryng up in hir tendir age.
This seid Ysis so plesant was & meete,
Off semlynesse, off look & off visage, 1676
1644. til] to H.
1646. also may H, R 3, all so Je may H 5, also ye may P.
1651. scelestiall H. 1653. ofT] first of H.
1657. list taken] listen talc R. 1668. tyme] om. R.
1669. put R, R 3, putte H 5. 1671. This] )^t H.
^MS. J. leaf 9 verso.
BK. i}
The Story of Isis
47
That lubiter, the myhti kyng off Creete,
Was enamerid with hir for to meete;
And she, excitid off femyn^te,
Enclynyd hir herte onto his deite.
And for she was off hir entent so cleene,
Obeieng hym in most lowH wise,
Off Argyuois he maad hir to be queene.
Because that she was smet in couetise,
Ageyn Argus a werre she gan deuise,
And for he was vnweeldi off his age,
Hir to withstonde he fond non auauntage.
But yit Fortune gan vp[on] hir frowne,
And kyng Argus thoruh his subtilite.
With his counseil so prudentli gan rowne.
That she was take bi ful gret cruelte,
And hir soudeours were eek made* to fle;
And bi Argus, ther geyned no ransoun,
She fetrid was & put in strong presoun.
But hir sone, the god Mercurius,
Riht fressh, riht lusti & ful off hardynesse.
And off his herte inU coraious,
AgeyTi[es] Argus gan his power dresse,
And so entierli dede his besynesse
That he was slay[e]n, in conclusioun,
And Ysis afftir delyuerid fro prisoun.
Off hir sleihtis afftirward nat feynt.
She took a ship and into Egipt wente.
In which[e] ship ther was a cow depeynt;
And Mercury,* whom lupiter eek sent,
Is gon with hir, bothe off oon entent.
To make a mariage afftir a-noon riht
Twen hir and Apis, a prynce off ful gret myht.
She was riht wis boue* othir creatures,
Secret off cunnj-ng, weel expert in science,
She tauhte first lettres and figures
To Gipciens be pleyn experience.
Gaff hem cunnyng and intelligence
1680
and made
her queen of
the Arrives.
She warred
on Argnt,
16&4
1688 who captured
her and put
her in prison.
1692
but her ton
Mercury
1696 Jew Ai^s
and Kt her
free.
1700
She then
took ship to
EgTpt and
married Apis.
1704
1708
1712
She taught
the Egyp-
tians how to
write and to
till their
land.
1680. deite] darte R. 1688. vpon] vp R.
1692. madej fayn B, R — eek] also J, H 5.
1705. Mercur>-j Cheurie R, B, Cheuerj' H, thouris J, thoures
H 5, Mercun- P.
1709. boue] aboue B, R, H, J, P, H 5.
48
The Story of Isis
[bk. I
and wag
worshiped
as a goddess.
Apis, her
husband, son
of Jupiter
and Niobe,
was cruelly
slain by his
brother
Typhon,
and after-
wards be-
came the
god Serapis.
To tile ther land, tauhte ther laborerls
To sowe ther greyn & multeplie bl yeris.
And In Egipt hir fame and hir renoun [p. 23] 1716
Gan day be day wexe and hir worthynesse,
Holde off cunnyng and reputacioun
Be signes shewed, nat onli a pryncesse,
But she was holde a-mong hem a goddesse, 1720
And with worshepis which that were dyuyne
And sacrefises, to hir thei dede enclyne.
But to declare pleynli at a woord,
A-myd[des] al hir gret prosperite, 1724
Myhti Apis, hir husbonde and hir lord,
Prynce off Egipt and duk off that cuntre,
Sone off lubiter and off Nyobe,
Which Nyobe, bi lynage descendyng, 1728
The doubter was off Phoroneus the kyng —
^ And Phoroneus first the lawes fond
To which al Grece stant vndir obeissauwce,
And the statutis off that myhti lond 1732
Were establisshid bi his ordynauwce —
But for to write the vnhappi chauwce
Off kyng Apis, as it is remembrid.
He slay[e]n was and pitousli dismembrid 1736
Bi his brother callid Tiffeus,
Sumwhat off hatrede, but mor for couetise;
For Tiffeus was inli desirous
To reioishe in ful mortal wise 1740
The myhti kyngdam, as ye ban herd deuise,
Off Argyuoys to haue possessioun,
Preferrid be moordre & fals successioun.
And whan that Ysis fond hir lord so ded, 1744
Off entent that he were magnefied.
First off wisdam she gan takyn heed,
Ordeyned a mene that he were deified,
Hih a-mong goddis to be stellefied, 1748
In Egipt templis maad hym to be stallid,
And god Serapis afftir he was callid.
1718. and] & ofF R.
1720. a-mong hem] ther R.
1738. off] for H.
1743. fals] bi R.
BK. l]
Erysicbtbon and Danaus
49
1752
1756
QO]ff Grisiton ^at hes membres ete for hunger.] ^
^ What shal I write ofF the cas horrible
Off Erisiton, with hungir so constreynyd,
That his lifF was to hymsilfF odible,
In ThesaUe with indigence peynyd;
And pitousH his fame was disteynyd,
Whan he solde his doubter in seruage,
Liriope, which was but yong off age,
Beschaung off gold to purueie hym vitaile.
Off verray neede he was so wo-begon;
He hadde no thyng that myhte his thrust auaile, 1760
Nor staunche his hungir with gnawyng on a bon,
WTierfore he eet his membris oon bi oon.
A prynce, alias, was it nat pite
To seen hym deie in such aduersite!
^ We ban eek rad, ful many a day tofor.
The grete baneshyng and proscripcioun,
Off Argyuois how kyng Gelanor
Was crueli put from his regeoun;
And his lieges, off indignacioun.
In his place thei sette oon Danaus,
Sone and eek heir onto the god Belus.
The peeple off malis dede hym so encoumbre,
Tencrece his sorwe and his aduersite.
And fifti douhtren he hadde also in noumbre,
And Egistus his brother, eek parde
Hadde fifti sones, the story ye may see,
Atween the which bi surete off bond
In mariage there was maad a bond,
Vndir which compassid was tresoun,
Couertli thouh thei dede it hide.
But yiff ye list ban cleer inspeccioun
Off this story vpon eueri side,
Redith the legende of martirs off Cupide,
Which that Chaucer, in ordre as thei stood,
Compiled off women that were callid good.
Erysichthon
told hi*
daughter
for huoger.
and after-
ward*, alas,
ate hit
member*.
1764
1768
1772
1776
1780
1784
Danau*,
founder of
Argo*.
had fifty
daughter*,
who married
the fifty sons
ol i£gyptu*.
You will find
their story in
Chaucer,
1752. Erisiton] Grisiton J, P, Grisitoun H 5, Herisiten R 3.
1755. fame] name R.
1771. the] om. R.
1783. Redith] Reed R— off] & R.
* MS. J. leaf 10 recto.
so
[bk.
who also
told the
tale of
Philomela
and Procne.
It were pre-
eumption for
me to tell it
again.
I will go on
to Cadmus;
but I am
terry that
there are so
few good
women to
write about.
1788
1792
The Tale of Philomela and Procne
^ Touchyng the story off kyng Pandioun,
And off his goodli faire douhtren tweyne,
How Thereus, fals off condicioun,
Hem to deceyue dede his besi peyne,
Thei bothe namyd, off beute souereyne,
Goodli Progne and yong[e] Philomene,
Bothe innocentis and ofF entent ful cleene.
Ther pitous fate in open to expresse,
It were to me but a presumpcioun,
Sithe that Chaucer dede his besynesse
In his legende, as maad is menciouw, 1796
Ther martirdam and ther passioun,
For to reherse* hem dede his besy peyne,
As cheef poete caUid off Breteyne.
OfF goode women a book he dede write, [p. 24] 1800
The nouwbre compleet* fully ofFnynteene;
And there the story he pleynli dede endite
OfFTereus, ofF Progne &* Philomeene,
Where ye may seen ther legende, thus I meene, 1804
Doth hem worshepe & foorth ther lifF doth shewe
For a cleer merour, because ther be so fewe.
I will passe ouer and speke ofF hem no more,
And onto Cadmus foorth my stile dresse — 1808
Yit in my writyng it greueth me sore,
Touchyng ofF women ofF feith or stabilnesse, —
Blessid be God, — I fynde noon excesse;
And for ther been so fewe, as thynkith me, 181 2
The goode sholde been had in mor deynte.
This tragedy
told about
Saturn,
^ Lenvoy.
THIS tragedie bereth to you witnesse.
How Saturnus bi disposiciouw,
Maliciousli of his frowardnesse 1816
Causith in lune ful gret infecciouw.
She off nature conveieth the venym douw,
The hair infect, which no man may socoure,
Kometh deth a-noon, & all thynge doth deuoure. 1820
1787. And] om. H. 1798. reherse] rehersen B, R.
1801. compleet] vncompleet B, J, vncomplet H 5.
1802. pleynly he did H.
1803. Tereus] Terence H, Therence R 3, P, Theseus J, H 5 —
&] & off B, R, H. 1804. ther] i>e H.
BK. l]
Jupiter, Europa and Cadmus
SI
and the_
destructioa
of princes
and princesses
Princes, re-
member that
Fortuna is
deceitful.
Tyme from Adam, myn auctour doth expresse, two dduges,
Doun to Nembroth bi successioun.
His stile conueied bi gret auysynesse,
From Zorastres to kyng Pharaoun; 1824
CM too deluges he maketh mencioun.
In Thesalie the vengaunce gan laboure.
And in Achaia Thebes to deuoure.
Ye haue off hetis herd the gret excesse, 1828
Off pryncis, pryncessis ful gret destruccioun,
OfF Egistus the gret[e] wrechidnesse,
The furie off Tereus, the wo off Pandioun,
Off the too sustren the confusioun, 1832
And how ther fate gan vpon hem loure,
Ther felicite vnwarli to deuoure.
Pryncis, Pryncessis, your eyen doth up dresse —
I meene the eyen off your discrecioun — 1836
Seeth off this world the chaung, the doubilnesse,
The gret onseumesse, the variacioun,
And aduertisith, for al your hih renoun.
Fortunes dewes, whan thei most suetli shoure, 1840
Than is she falsest, your glorie* to deuoure.
[How lubiter rauisshed Europe, and how Cadmus
was sent/to seke hir in diuers Regiouns.J ^
BE rehersaile off many an old poete.
Be discent the lyne conueied doun.
Next Satt^mus, the myhti kyng off Crete, 1844
loue was crownyd bi successioun.
As next heir bi procreacioun,
Afftir his fadir the lond to enherite,*
Regned in Crete, as poetis list to write. 1848
Sone off the lynage, as I you tolde affom.
Off the goddis most souereyn and enteere,
Yit thouh he was off blood so hih I-bom,
He ches Europa for to been his feere, 1852
And doun descendid from his heuenli speere.
As he that was, for al his deite,
Supprisid in herte with hir gret beute.
1831. Tereus] Thereus R, H, R 3, P, J, H 5 — furie] furies H.
1832. 2ndthe]ofFR.
1835. The second line of this stanza misplaced at end, H.
1841. gloire B. 1847. tenherite B.
^ MS. J. leaf 10 verso.
Jupiter
succeeded
Saturn,
and chose
Europa to be
his wife.
52
The Story of Cadmus
Hbk. I
She was a
daughter of
Agenor.
Jupiter took
her by force
from her
father,
who told his
son Cadmus
to bring her
back or him-
self never to
return home
again.
Cadmus set
out
bravely
towards
Greece
And she was douhter to the myhti kyng
Callid Agenor, by lyneal discent,
Whos myhti kyngdaw & roial fair duellyng
Was in Phenice toward the orient;
And to Arabie his land was adiacent,
Ferre* be south, as ye may reede and see,
Toward the parties of the Rede Se.
But lubiter, whan he dede aduerte
Off Europa the gret[e] semlynesse,
Hym thouhte he was woundid thoruh the herte
Onto the deth, beholdyng hir fairnesse,
And for his constreynt, & his mortal distresse,
Seyng she was so fair fouwde* in his siht,
He rauesshid hire ofF veray force & myht.
But Agenor, hir owyn fadir deere,
Gan on this cas ful pitously compleyne,
Whan she, alias, most goodli and enteere.
Was hym berafFt, which doublid al his peyne;
Recur was noon, thouh he dede pleyne,
Til he, remembrynge in his regalie,
Thouhte he wolde senden to espie
His sone Cadmus hir to recure ageyn,
For to serche hire in many a regeouw,
Wherso his labour were fructuous or in veyn.
His fadir sette hym a fell condicioun,
Nat to retourne hi noon occasioun, —
And therupon maad hym to be bounde, —
Til that he hadde the kyngis douhter fouwde.
He took his shippis bi gret auysynesse, [p. 25]
And gan to saile be many a straunge se,
Dede his labour and his besynesse.
With many a worthi that were with hyw preue;
But whan that he off resoun dede see,
Ther was no mene for which that he was sent,
For tacomplisshe the fyn off his entent,
With glad[e] herte, deuoid off al gruchyng,
Seyng the cas froward and contraire.
Humble off [his] cheer[e] took his exilyng.
1856
i860
1864
1872
1876
1880
1892
1861. Ferre be south] For be south B, For be sothe R, for to
be South P, For to be sought R 3.
1868. founde] foundyn B, founden R, H.
1871. Gan] Can R. 1873. berauht H. 1874. And recur R 3.
1877. recure] espien H. 1878. a] om. H.
BK. l]
Cadmus consults Apollo
53
And off manhod list nat hymsilff dispaire,
But with his meyne knyhtli gan repaire
Toward Grece, & proudli ther to londe, 1896
OflF Appollo for to vndirstonde,
To what parti that he myhte drawe.
He praied the god to wissyn hym & reede,
Sum tokne shewe or sum maner lawe, 1900
Onto what ile that he myhte hym speede;
Or that he wolde graciously hym leede
Where-as he myhte bilden a cite,
That were accordyng for hym & his meyne. 1904
And to Appollo he dede sacrefise,
And maad to hym his oblacioun,
The god requeryng goodli to deuise,
To what lond or to what regeoun 1908
For his duellyng and habitacioun
He sholde drawe, withoute mor obstacle.
For hym and hise to make his habitacle.
And Cadmus thus tofForn Appollo stood, 191a
Knelyng a-mong with ful gret reuerence.
And in the temple off Delphos stille a-rbod.
With humble attendaunce & deuout dilligence
Meekli besekyng,* bi woord or sum* sentence, 1916
That Appollo to hym wolde onclose,
To what parti he sholde hymsilff dispose.
This was his answere in conclusioun.
As the statue to hym dede expresse: 1920
To goon and serche contrees enviroun.
And til he fond, doon his besynesse,
A bole that were excellyng of faimesse.
Which, bi precept off Appollos lawe, 1924
Hadde neuer afforn in no yok Idrawe.
And where that euer sekyng that he fond
A bole stonde stille in his pasture,
Appollo bad vpon the same lond, 1928
Where-as he sauh this sihte off auenture.
That he sholde doon his besi cure
To bilde a cite, he and his folkis all.
And Boecia, afftir the bole, it call. 193a
1899. &] or H. 1916. besek>Tig] abid>Tig B, R, H — sum]
bi sum B, R, J. 1917. enclose] enclose R.
1920. As] And R. 1926. ist that] om. H.
and asked
Apollo to
tell him
where
he and his
people should
dwell.
Apollo told
Cadmus to
learch for a
bull that
had never
drawn in
yoke.
and, where
he found
him, to
build a city.
54
Cadmus builds Thebes
[bk. I
which he did, And whan that Cadmus the precept vndirstood,
And in serchyng dede his besynesse,
He fond a place where-as a bole stood
Fedyng hymselff, which as bi liklynesse 1936
Was a place ful plesant off largesse,
Wher-as he stynte and gan a cite reise,
Which that poetis gretli comende & preise.
And that his bildyng myhte the more auaile, 1940
AUe tho foreyns that dede a-boute hym duelle,
Ful lik a knyht, be force and be bataile
Out ofF that cuntre he dede hem expelle,
Reisyng a cite which that dede excelle, 1944
And as Guide recordeth eek the same,
Into this day off Thebes berith the name.
and named
it Thebes.
Cadmus was
a great and
wise man
And he was nat onli glorefied
For reryng up off this grete cite.
But he was also gretli magnefied
For his manhod and magnanymyte,
And most comendid, yiff ye list to see,
For the surmountyng famous excellence
Which that he hadde in wisdam & science.
1948
1952
and invented
laws and an
alphabet.
He married
Hermione
at about the
time of the
death of
Joshua,
For as myn auctour list off hym endite,
Thoruh his noble prudent purueiance
He tauhte figures & lettris for to write, 1956
And made lawes off ful gret ordynance
A-mong the Grekis, and sette gouernance
Ther vicious liff bi vertu to restreyne;
And who outraied was punshid with the peyne. i960
And off entent tencrecen his lynage.
And his cite also to multeplie.
He took a wiff, that was but yong off age,
And she was callid, as bookis specefie, 1964
Hermyone; and touchyng hit allie,
Thouh that she were born off roial blood,
She was also bothe inly fair and good.
And this was doon, as writith myn
auctour, [p. 26] 1968
Afftir the deth of worthi losue,
Gothonyel beyng his successour,
1934. serchyng] sechyng H.
1941. tho] \)e J, the R 3, H 5.
BK. l]
Cadmus; bis four DaugbUrs
55
Hauyng the ledyng and the souereynte
OflF Israel whan Thebes the cite 1972
Was foundid first in tho daies olde
Bi kjmg Cadmus, tofforn as I you tolde.
Foure douhtren he hadde be his lyue,
Ful faire echon and goodli on to see; 1976
And ther names to rehersen blyue,
Semele was eldest, and next Authonoe,
The thridde in ordre was callid Ynoe,
And Agaue was yongest off hem all, 1980
OfFwhich[e] douhtres thus [it] is be-fall:
Thei were echon off port & off maneer
Ful weel fauoured in euery manys siht,
Riht womanli and heuenli of ther cheer; 1984
And for ther beute, ther fadir anoon riht,
As it was sittyng, with al his ful[le] myht,
Lik ther estatis, ther berthe & eek ther age,
Maad hem be weddid & ioyned in manage 1988
To worthi pryncis, his lynage to auaunce.
And thei encreced bi procreacioun,
WherofF the kyng hadde ful gret plesaunce
And gret reioishyng in his opynyoun 1992
To seen his lyne bi generacioun,
With his nevewes & cosyns off allie.
Fro day to day so wexe and multeplie.
And this encreced his felicite.
Whan he considred verrali in deede
The riche bildyng off his roial cite,
And how Fortune dede his bridil leede
To gret richesse, in bookis as I reede,
To gret noblesse, hauyng residence
In his cite off most magnyficence.
His doubter Semele, record off myn auctour,
Thouh she descendid were off the blood roiall,
To lubiter she was paramour,
And bi his power aboue celestiall.
She conceyued in especiall.
As poetis list off hire tendite, 2008
Hym that is god off grapis rede & white,
1971. 2nd the] om. R. 1973. foundid] founden R.
198 1, it] om. R.
2000. the t in gret stuck in scribe's pen H.
and had four
daughten.
who were
very beautiful
and became
the wives of
worthy
prince*.
1996 Cadmn*
proq>ered.
His daughter
Semele had
2004 a son,
Baochus, by
Jupiter,
56
but Juno in
her anger
caused Semele
to be burnt
up together
with her
palace.
Actaeon, son
of Autonog
and Aristaeus,
was devoured
by hounds.
Agave, the
youngest
sister.
murdered her
son Pentheus
because he
laughed at
the women
of Thebes
when they
sacrificed to
Bacchus.
Thus Cadmus
fell into
great trouble.
The Misfortunes of Cadmus* Family [bk. i
Callld Bachus, which hath the gouernaunce
Off wynis alle and the regalie.
WherofF afFtir ther fill ful gret vengaunce: 2012
[For] whan luno dede first espie
OfF lubiter the grete auoutrie,
Off gret hatrede and envious desir,
She made Semeles be brent with sodeyn fir, 2016
Bi descendyng off a sodeyn leuene,
Wherthoruh hir paleis was into asshes brent —
The vnwar strook cam douw fro [the] heuene,
And on Semeles the vengaunce is doun went; 2020
And or the flawme consumed was & spent,
Ther was off hir lefFt no remembraunce,
But oflp hir eende the woful mortal chaunce.
^ Eek Antheon, sone off Authonoe, 2024
To gret[e] myscheefF and infortune born,
Whos fadir was callid Eristee,
Come off the kynrede that I you tolde aflForn;
With cruel houwdis, alias, he was to-torn, 2028
For that he sauh, as bookis off hym tell,
Diane nakid bathe hire in a well.
And as poetis remembryn atte leste.
Whan the ladies off Thebes the cite 2032
Heeld off Bachus solempneli the feste,
The yongest suster, callid Agaue,
Doubter to Cadmus, — alias, it was pite! —
Ageyn Pantheus, hir* owyn sone deere, 2036
She wex so wood & mortal off hir cheere,
Moordryng hym in ful cruel wise.
In hir rage she was so furious:
For he louh[e] at the sacrefise 2040
In Thebes doon bi women to Bachus;
The which[e] sone was callid Pantheus,
Whom that she slouh with a ful sharp[e] dart.
In hir woodnesse, as she hym fond a-part. 2044
These grete myscheuys fellyn in the lyne
Off kyng Cadmus thoruh his onhappi chauwce;
Fortune his noblesse gan to vndirmyne.
2010. hath the] that hath R.
2013. For]oOT. H, R. 2018,19] om.J.
2019. 2nd the] om. H, R. P. 2030. in] at H.
2036. hir] his B, R — Pantheus] om. J.
BK. l]
Tbf Troubles of Cadmus
57
And thouhte she wolde his glory disauaunce. 2048
Al worldli gladnesse is medlid with greuaunce,
Experience in Cadmus ye may see.
So importable was his aduersite.
For whil he sat most hiest in his glory, [p. 27] 2052
No parti clipsed off his prosperite,
His briht renoun and his roial memory
In rewmis sprad and many ferr cuntre.
And he most welful in his kyngli see 2056
Sat with his lynage, most hih in his noblesse,
Than cam Fortune, the fals enchaunteresse,
Off wilfulnesse, and fond occasioun
A-geyn this Cadmus, & maad his renoun dulle, 2060
And off his kynrede, bi fals coUusioun,
She gan a-wey the brihtest fethres pulle;
And whan his shynyng was wexe up to the fulle,
Afftir the chaung off Fortunys lawe, 2064
His glory gan discrecen and withdrawe.
It was mor greuous to his dignite,
A sodeyn fall from his hih noblesse.
Than yiff that he neuer hadde be 2068
Set in thestat off [so] gret worthynesse;
For the furious mortal heuynesse
Off his kynreede, withoutyn any more,
Wolde haue greued a poore man ful sore. 2072
And a-mong his sorwes euerichon,
To reherse pleynli as it was,
I dar afferme how that there was oon.
Most horrible & dreedful in such cas; 2076
For Cadmus sone, callid Athamas,
His sone-in-lawe, thoruh fals malencolie
Fill sodenli into a frenesie.
Off whom the wiff was callid Ynoe, 20S0
Cadmus doubter, as ye ban herd expresse.
Which thoruh the constreynt off his infirmite,
In his rage and furious woodnesse
Thouhte that his wiff was a leonesse, 2084
And in his wilde ymagynaciouns,
That his too childre were also too leouns.
2052. his gIory3 hiest R. 2062. brihtest] briht H.
2069. thestatj the staat J, the state P — so] om. R.
2085. wilde] wood R — ymaginacion R.
Fortune, the
false
enchantress,
undermined
his prosperity.
It was the
more grievous
because of
his high
estate.
Hit greatest
sorrow was
caused by hi*
son-in-law,
Athamas,
who thought,
hit wife a
lioness and
his sons lions.
58
57?^ End of Cadmus
[bk. I
antJ ^w his And vpon hem ful loude he gan to crie,
Toward his wifF in haste he ran anon, 2088
And from hir armys, ther was no remedie,
The child he rente, and on a craggi ston
He gan* to brose it and breke it eueri bon.
The which[e] child, Bochas writith thus, 2092
Ful tendir and yong, was callid Learchus.
ino fled with And ofF this woful sodeyn auenture
son. OfF his rage, whan that [s]he took heed,
As most sorweful ofF any creature, 2096
Hir othir child she hente anoon for dreed;
For ofF socour she knew no betir speed.
So as she myhte gan haste out ofF his siht.
But wellaway, as she took hir to fliht, 2100
Hir husbonde cam afFtir pursuyng
Lich a wood leoun in his cruel te;
Doun from a mounteyn, which was dependyng,
She and hir child fill into the se. 2104
Was it nat routhe, was it nat pite,
A kyngis doubter, hir lord in Thebes crownyd.
He to be wood and she for feer so drownyd!
Thus the joy of Loo, hecr the fyn ofF Cadmus euerideel,
His childre slayn and his allies all.
And he hymsilfF[e] fro Fortunys wheel,
Whan he lest wende, ful sodenli is fall,
His litil sugir temprid with moch gall:
For a-mong[es] all his mortal peynes.
His liege-men, ofF Thebes citeseynes,
They fell
into the sea
and were
drowned.
2108
tempered
with sorrow.
Finally he
and hia
wife were
exiled
and died in
poverty.
Made ageyn hym a conspiracioun,
Put hym in exil and his wifF also,
His sonys, his douhtris brouht to destruccioun;
And to thencrecyng ofF his dedli wo.
He and his wifF compellid bothe too
For verray pouert and verray indigence
In ther last age to purchace ther dispence.
Thus [of] Cadmus the sorwes to descryue
And his myscheefF to putte in remembraunce.
He banshid was twies bi his lyue.
2116
2124
2089.
2091.
2095.
2109.
2122.
hir] ther R. 2090. craggi] cragge R.
He gan] Began B, R — brose] briste J, bris R 3, bruise P.
she] he H, R. 2096. As] Was H. 2109. children R.
all] om. R. 2120. verray] varrei R.
of] om. R.
BK. l]
An Envoy on Cadmus
59
First bi his fadris cruel ordynaunce
Off his suster to maken enqueraunce.
And althirlast in his vnweeldi age
He was compellid to holden his passage
Out off Thebes, his wifF and he allone,
In sorwe & wepyng taccompHssh up ther daies.
Into Illirie to-gidre thei be gone,
Ther pacience put at fell assaies,
Whos bittimesse felte noon allaies.
Eek off ther eende nor ther vnhappi fate.
Nor off ther deth I fynde noon other date,
SaufF that Guide maketh mencioun, [p. 28]
And John Bochas the poete excellent
Seith that the* brethre, Zeto & Amphioun,
Out off Thebes, bothe bi oon assent,
Haue* this Cadmus into exil sent,
His wifF also, afFtir ther hih noblesse.
To eende her lifF in sorwe and wrechidnesse.
But the goddis, ofF merci and pite,
Whan thei hem sauh bi Fortune so cast doun
From ther estatis into pouerte,
Hauyng ofF hem ful gret compassioun,
Thei made a-noon a transformacioun
OfF bothe tweyne, hem yeuyng the liknesse
OfF serpentis, to lyue in wildimesse.
2128
2132
2136 But Ovid
tayi that
the gods bad
mercy on
them and
transfonned
them into
2 140 seipcot*.
2144
2148
<[ Lenvoye.
OWHAT estat may hymsilfF assure
For to conserue his lifFin sekimesse?
What worldli ioie may heer long endure.
Or wher shal men now fynde stabilnesse,
Sithe kyngis, pryncis from ther hih noblesse —
Record ofF Cadmus — been sodenli brouht lowe
And from the wheel ofF Fortune ouerthrowe?
2156
Who may susteene the pitous auenture
Off this tragedie be writyng to expresse?
Is it nat lik onto the chaunteplure,
Gynnyng with ioie, eendyng in wrechidnesse? — 2160
Al worldli blisse is meynt with bittimesse,
2126. Inqueraunce H.
2138. the] thee B, thre H, R, two P.
2140. Haue] Hath B, han H, J. 2143. and] & off R.
What esute
may live in
security?
All woridly
happiness is
mingled with
sorrow,
6o
^etes. King of Colchos
[bk. I
therefore, O
Lords, be-
ware the
fate of those
whom
Fortune cast
from her
wheel.
JEtXts, king
of Colchos,
6on of Apollo,
The sodeyn chauwg no man therofF may knowe;
For who sit hiest is sonest ouerthrowe.
Was in this world yit neuer creature, 2164
Rekne up pryncis, for al ther hih noblesse
Fortune koude recleyme hem to hir lure
And emporisshe thoruh hir frowardnesse.
Wherfore, ye Lordis, for* al your gret richesse, 2168
Beth war afForn or ye dauwce on the rowe
Off such as Fortune hath from hir wheel throwe.
[A processe of Oetes kyng of Colchos, lason, Medee,
Theseus, Scilla Nisus, and other moo.] ^
WHAN lohn Bochas was most dilligent
To considre the successiouws
Off lynages, with all his hool entent,
In his writyng and descripciouns
To compile the generaciouns
Of many noble, famous off estat —
I meene off such as were infortunat, —
In his serchyng he fond nat a fewe
That were vnhappi founde in ther lyuyng;
To his presence a-noon ther gan hem* shewe
A multitude ful pitousli wepyng,
A-mongis which, ful doolfully pleynyng,
Cam first Oetes, and hath his cowpleynt gunne,
Kyng off Colchos and sone onto the sunne. 2184
For off Phebus, which is so briht & cleer,
Poetis write that he was sone and heir,
Because he was so myhti off poweer.
So fressh, so lusti, so manli [and] so feir; 2188
But off Fortune he fill in gret dispeir,
Cursyng his fate and his destyne.
Whan lason first entrid his cuntre,
Be Pelleus sent fro Thesalie, 2192
Ther for taccomplisshe be dilligent labour
The grete emprises thoruh his cheualrie,
2166. recleyme] recline R. 2168. for] with B, R, J, H 5.
2170. as Fortune] fortune as R — as] om. J — throwe] ou^r-
t)rowe J, H 5. 2180. hem] hym B, R, H 5, him J, them P.
2183. compleynt] playnte R.
2188. lusti manli and ri3t faier J, H 5 — and] om. H, R, R 3.
2191. lason] losan R.
1 MS. J. leaf 12 recto.
2172
2176
2180
BK. l]
Jason and Medea
6i
YifF God and Fortune list doon to hym fauour,
That he myhte wynnen the tresour:
This is to meene, that he were so bold
The ram tassaile which bar the Flees of Gold.
This said lason thoruh* counseil off Mede,
Bi sorcery and incantacioun
The boolis slouh, horrible for to see,
And venquysshid the venymous dragoun.
The k3'ng despoilid off his possessioun,
Accomplisshid with carectis & figures
Off Colchos the dreedful auentures.
And afFtirward, whan he his purpos hadde.
He lefFte Oetes in ful gret dispair,
And Medea foorth with hym he ladde
And hir brother, which was the kyngis hair.
But as I fynde, how in his repair,
Out off Colchos whan thei gan remue,
Kyng Oetes afftir hem gan sue.
Vpon lason auenged for to be,
Withoute tarieng, he folwid hem proudly;
The which[e] thyng whan lason dede see,
This Medea gan shape a remedy:
She took hir brothir & slouh hym cruely,
And hym dismembrid, as bookis make mynde,
And pecemeel in a feeld behynde
She gan hym caste, al bespreynt with
blood. [p. 29]
WherofF his fader whan he hadde a siht,
Ful pale off cheer, stille in the feeld he stood,
Whil she and lason took hem onto fliht —
I trowe that tyme the moste wo ful wiht
That was a-lyue, whan he dede knowe
His child dismembrid and abrood Isowe!
Which cause was, alias and wellaway!
That he so stynte, as man disconsolat,
Whil that lason fro Colchos went a-way.
And Medea, most infortunat.
Was ground and roote off this mortal debat:
2196
wa» de«poiled
of the Golden
2200 Fleece by
JasoD,
2204
who led
away hi*
daughter
„ Medea.
2208
Medea slew
her brother
2116
to itajr her
father*.
2224
2228
2195. to] om. R. 2197. is] om. R.
2199. This] The H — saide] om. J, H c
the B, H, R, R 3.
2204. carectis] carecters R3, charactes P.
thoruh] thoruh
62
Medecis Enchantments
Cbk. I
Her love of
Jason was
the cause of
it all.
Afterwards
Medea re-
stored iEson
to youth
and caused
the death of
Peiias, Jason's
uncle,
For who sauh euer or radde off such a-nothir, 2333
To saue a straunger list to slen hir brothir?
Forsook hir fader, hir contre & kynreede,
The lond enporished thoruh hir robberie;
Off hir worshep she took noon othir heed, 2236
Loue had hir brouht in such a fantasie.
And whil that she a-bood in Thesalie
And with lason dede ther soiourne,
She made Eson to youthe to retourne. 2240
A yerde she took, that was drie and old,
And in hir herbis and cowmixciouns*
She made it boile, in Guide it is told.
And bi carectis and incantaciouws, 2244
And with the crafFt off hir coniurisouws
The yerde be-gan [to] budde & blosme newe
And to here frut and leuys fresh off hewe.
And semblabli with hir confecciouws 2248
His olde humours she hath depurid cleene,
And with hir lusti fresh[e] pociouws
His empti skyn, tremblyng & riht leene.
Pale and wan, that no blood was seene, 2252
But as it were a dedli creature —
Al this hath she transfformyd bi nature.
Made hym lusti and fressh off his corage,
Glad off herte, liffli off cheer and siht, 2256
Riht weel hewed and cleer off his visage.
Wonder delyuer bothe off force & myht,
In all his membris as weeldi & as lyht
As euer he was, and in the same estat, 2260
Bi crafft off Mede he was so alterat.
Afftir al this, a-geyn kyng Pelleus
She gan maligne, vncle onto lason;
And off envie she procedith thus: 2264
The kyngis douhtren* she drow to hir anoon,
Hem counsailid that thei sholde goon
Onto ther fadir & pleynli to hym seyn,
Yiff he desirid to be yong a-geyn. 2268
2234
22
2nd hir] om. H. 2238. thatj] om. R.
42. in"] wi[) J — in commixciouns the 2nd c is formed like t in
B, H, J . 2244. carectis] charactes P. 2246. to] om. R, H.
2249. humours] humerus R. 2250. hir] his H.
2265. douhtren] douhter B, douhtir R, douhtren H, doughters
P, R 3, H 5 — drow] drawij) J.
BK. i\ The Treason of Medea 63
Ful restored his force to recure by promwing
And therwithal in lusti age floure, to make him
She behihte to doon hir besi cure L^b^diCT,
Lik his desir to helpyn and socoure, 227a
And in this mateer so crafft[i]li laboure,
Fynali stonde in the same caas
To be maad yong, lik as his brothir was.
Touchyng which thyng, for mor euydence 2276
This Medea hath to the douhtren told,
Off entent to yeue the mor credence,
She bad hem take a ram that wer riht old,
And with a knyff for to be so bold 2280
To sleen this beeste affom hem ther he stood,
And in a vessel drawe out his olde blood,
FuUi affermyng lik as it wer trewe, pertu»ding
That he sholde been a lamb a-geyn. 2284 "^
For she be crafft wolde his blood renewe
In such wise be euidence pleyn
That off elde no tokne shal be seyn —
In al his membris as lusti and enteer 2288
As was a lamb euyd off o yeer.
And therupon in ful sleihti wise
She gan a processe off ful fals tresoun.
The sustre made vpon this ram practise, 2292
Drouh out his blood lik her entenciouw;
And she bi crafft off fals illusiouw
Blent her eyen bi apperence in veyn
The olde ram to seeme a lamb a-geyn. 2296
Thus Medea be sleihte compassyng, to kfli their
Off envie and venymous hatreede,
Excitid hath the sustre in werkyng,
A-geyn ther fadir mortali to proceede. 2300
With sharp[e] knyuis thei made her fader bleede.
Mid the herte thoruhout euery veyne,
Supposyng, the celi sustren tweyne.
That Pelleus renewed sholde be [p. 30] 2304
To youthe a-geyn off force & off substauwce.
But fynali bi tresoun off Mede
2272. his] hir H. 2275. his] hir H. 2285. For] & H.
2289. euyd] yewide R 3, yened P, eyned J, H 5.
2299. sustre] sustren H, sustres H 5, susters P.
2300. to] om. H, R 3. 2305. youht geyn R.
father.
64
The Fate of Creusa
[bk. I
Medea
thought this
would please
Jason, but
it did not.
He left her
and went to
Corinth,
where he
married
Creusa,
whom Medea
burnt up
in revenge.
Jason wanted
to punish
her.
He lost* his lifF, such was his woful chaunce;
For she it wrouhte onli ofF vengauwce, 2308
As roote & ground off this cruel deede,
A-geyn the* nature off al * womanheede.
Supposyng in hir opynyoun,
How that the deth gretli sholde plese 2312
OfF Pelleus onto hir lord lasouw,
Thoruh gret encres sette his herte at ese;
But it rebounded into his disese,
That fynali lason hir forsook 2316
For hir offence, and he his weye took
Into Corynthe, toward the kyng Creon,
Whos douhter Creusa, for hir gret beute,
Was afFtirward iweddid to lason. 2320
But whan this weddyng was knowe to Mede,
Caste she wolde theron auengid be,
Gan to conspire off malis and envie,
And thoruh hir magik and [hir] sorcerie, 2324
In ful gret haste gan [for] to ordeyne
A litil cofFre, onli off entent;
And bi hir yonge faire sonys tweyne.
With othre iewelis, she hath the cofFre sent, 2328
Onto Creusa makyng a present.
Which ofF malis she list so dispose.
That whan Creusa the cofFre dede onclose,
The fir brast out a ful large space, 2332
Brent Creusa bi ful gret violence,
Set a-fire pleynli al the place
Benchauntement; ther* was no resistence —
Al wente affire that was in hir presence, 2336
Bi vengance dede ful gret damage.
But whan lason the fir sauh in his rage.
And considred the malis ofF Mede,
Thouhte he wolde doon execucioun 2340
For to punshe the gret iniquite
A-geyn[e]s hym compassid ofF tresoun;
For she ofF vengance, a-geyn[es] al resoun,
2307. lost] lefFte B, R. 2309. &] off R.
2310. the] om. B — al] al good B, R.
2312. that] at R. 2314. encres] ences R — at] in R.
2322. theron] om. R. 2324. hir] om. R, H.
2325. for] om. ], R. 2335. ther] pleynli ther B, R.
BK. l]
Medea marries King ^geus
6S
Afftir that Creusa consumed was & brent,
Hir owne sonys, which she hadde sent,
Withoute routhe or womanli pite,
She falsll moordred — the childre that she bar
Lik a stepmooder auenged for to be,
Cutte ther throtis or that thei wer war,
A-geyn nature, ther was noon othir spaar,
But for hatreede she hadde onto lason.
AflFtir this moordre she fledde hir way a-noon,
So escapyng his indignacioun.
Be crafft off magik she wente at liberte
To Athenys, and in that regioun
She weddid was onto the kyng Egee.
Nat longe aiFtir bi hym a sone had she.
The which[e] child, myn auctour tellith thus,
Afftir Medea caUid was Medus.
Afftir whos name the famous regioun
I-named was, which is caUid Meede.
But folwyng ay hir olde condicioun.
This Medea, void off shame & dreede,
Compassid hath off wilful fals hatreede.
That Theseus, the sone off kyng Egee,
With newe poisoun shal deuoured be.
But Theseus, ful lik a manli knyht.
In repairyng hom to his contre.
Off hih prudence espied a-noon ryht
The mortal vengance, the gret[e] cruelte
Off his stepmooder, which off enmite
Concludid* hath in hir entencioun
Hym to destroie onwarli with poisoun.
Hir herte off malis, cruel & horrible.
As she that was with tresoun euer allied,
Whan that she sauh hir purpos most odible
Be kyng Egeus fuUi was espied,
She hath hir herte & wittis newe applied.
As in ther bookis poetis han compiled,
A-geyn to lason to be reconsiled.
She fledde away for dreed off Theseus,
List he hadde doon on hir vengaunce.
And fynali, as writ Ouidius,
2352. hir way] away H. 2361. callid is J, called is P.
2372. Concludid] Concludyng B, R.
especially as
she murdered
her two son*
out of hatred
to him.
But the es-
caped to
Athens,
married
.(Egeus
2344
2348
2352
2356
2360
and tried to
poison her
stepson
, Theseus, who
2304 escaped.
2368
2372
2376 She then
went back
to Jason.
2380
66
Medea restored to Jason. Minos
[bk. I
Poets do not
tell how it
was that
they were
reconciled.
It must
have been
through
sorcery.
At any rate,
they restored
iEetes to his
throne.
Now I shall
turn to
Minos, son
of Jupiter
and Europa.
He was king
of Crete and
And moral Senec concludith in substaunce, 2384
In his tragedies makyng remembrauwce,
How Medea, lik as poetis seyn,
Onto lason restored was a-geyn.
Touchyng the eende off ther furious
discord, [p. 31] 2388
Poetis make therofF no menciouw
Nor telle no mene how thei fill at accord.
But yifF it were bi incantacioun,
Which so weel koude turne up-so-doun 2392
Sundry thyngis off loue & off hatreede.
And in Bochas off hir no mor I reede,
Sauff whan she hadde fulfiUid hir purpos,
Myn auctour tellith, that lason & Mede 2396
Resorted han a-geyn onto Colchos
Hir fadir Oetes, & from his pouerte
Brouht hym a-geyn into his roial see.
And to his crowne bi force thei hym restore: 2400
Touchyng his eende, off hym I fynde* no more.
Thus his fortune hath turnyd to and fro.
First lik a kyng hauyng ful gret richesse,
Afftir lyuyng in pouert and in wo, 2404
Sithen restorid to his worthynesse:
Thus ay is sorwe medlid with gladnesse.
Who can aduerte, in al worldli thyng,
Record off Mynos, the noble worthi kyng. 2408
TO whom I muste now my stile dresse,
Folwen the tracis off Bochacius,
The which[e] Mynos, as Ouide doth expr^sse,
Touchyng his birthe writ[eth] pleynli thus, 2412
That he was manli, wis and vertuous,
Sone bi discent off lubiter the grete.
And off Europa born to been heir in Crete.
Off his persone wonder delectable, 2416
Ful renommed off wisdam and science,
Bi dyuers titles off laude comendable
Off birthe, off blood, off knyhthod & prudence;
For bi his study and enteer dilligence 2420
He fond first lawes groundid on resouw,
Wherbi off Crete the grete regioun
2390. zt\ om. R. 2401. I fynde] fynde I B, R, J.
2412. wnteth] writ R. 2419. &]ofH.
BK. l]
Minos and ^een Pasipbae
67
Gouemyd was and set in stabilnesse.
Alle iniuries and wrongis to refourme,
Made statutis extorsiouns to represse,
Off rihtwisnesse thei took ther firste fourme,
And that ech man sholde hymselfF confourme
Lik ther degrees, subiect and souerayne.
That no man hadde no mater to complayne.
He made his liges to lyuen in quieete,
Cleer shynyng in his roial noblesse,
With suerd and sceptre sittyng in his seete;
And whil he floured in his worthynesse
He took a wifF off excellent faimesse,
Doubter to Phebus, in Bochas ye may see,
And she was callid faire Pasiphe.
And hir fadir, bi record off writyng,
In his tyme was holden ful famous;
Off thile off Rodis he was crownyd kyng,
And in his daies off port ful glorious,
Riht proud in armis and victorious,
Takyng witnesse Methamorphoseos.
His doubter hadde thre childre be Mynos,
The firste a sone callid Androgee,
And afftirward ful faire douhtren tweyne,
Riht womanli and goodli on to see;
But, as Fortune for hem dede ordeyne,
Thei felte her lyue gret trouble & [gret] peyne
Callid Adriana, and Phedra was the tothir,
Folwyng ther fate, it myhte be noon othir.
Androgeus bi kyng Mynos was sent,
For he sholde profityn in clergie,
To Athenys off vertuous entent
There to stodien in philosophie;
And for he gan tencrece & multeplie
And passe all othir bi studi in lernyng
And to excelle his felawes in cunnyng,
Thei off envie and fals malis, alias.
Made a-geyn hym a conspiracioun,
And from a pynacle sacrid to Pallas,
2425. represse] oppresse R. 2439. thile] the vile F
2441. riht victorious H. 2445. douhtre R.
2448. 2nd gret] om. R. 2449. that othir R.
2450. ther] the H. 2452. sholde] wold R.
goTcmed his
subjectt wdi.
2424
2428
His wife's
name was
2432 Pasiphae,
2436
2440
2444
2448
2452
2456
2460
by whom he
had three
children.
Their son
Androgeus
was mali-
ciously slain
in Athens,
68
Scylla and Nisus
[bk. I
for which
Minos took
revenge.
Nisus, king
of Megara,
helped the
Athenians,
but his
daughter
Scylla fell
in love with
Minos
and conspired
her father's
death.
Off ful gret heihte, made hym tumble doun.
For which iniurie, Bochas maketh menciouw,
His fadir Mynos auengid for to be,
Leide a gret power a-boute the cite. 2464
He caste hym fulH that no maw sholde hyw lette,
But that he wolde doon crueli vengaunce;
And round a-boute so sore he hem besette
With men off armys & with his ordynauwce, 2468
That fynali he brouht hem to vttrauwce,
And them constreynyd, withynne a Htil space,
Ther lifF, ther deth submyttyng to his grace.
But whil thei made ageyn hym resistence, [p. 3 2] 2472
Supposyng his power to withstonde,
Nisus, that was kyng off Megarence,
A-geyn Mynos ther parti took on honde:
And offte tymes, as ye shal vndirstonde, 2476
Whan kyng Mynos the cite dede assaile,
Nisus withynne, with myhti apparaile
Vpon the wal stood in his difFence —
Whan that Mynos, ful lik a manli knyht, 2480
Fauht withoute with sturdi violence,
Lich Mars hymsilfF in steel armyd briht.
WherofF whan Scilla onys hadde a siht,
Douhtir to Nisus, aduertyng his prowesse, 2484
A-noon for loue she fill in gret distresse.
She was supprisid with his hih noblesse;
His manli force, expert many-fold,
Set[te] Scilla in gret heuynesse: 2488
For loue off Mynos, off poetis it is told.
Made hir herte presumen and be bold,
First hir-silff to putte in iupartie,
Hir fadris lifF, the cite, the clergie. 2492
From hir herte loue hath set a-side,
A-geyn nature, hir blood & hir kynreede;
And al frenshipe from hire she gan deuyde,
And off hir worship took no maner heede: 2496
Loue maad hir cruel, a-geyn al womanheede,
First hir herte so sore sette affire,
Hir fadres deth falsli to conspire.
2469. vttraunce] variaunce R. 2471. Ther] The H.
2474. Magarence H. 2489. 2nd ofT] in H.
2491. iupartiej parti R.
BK. l]
Scyllas unnatural Cruelty
69
For kyng Mynos beyng a straunger
Was so enprentid in hir opynyoun,
Off creatures ther stood noon so neer;
And for his sake, bi ful fals tresoun.
She compassid the destruccioun
First off hir fadir and off the cite —
So straunge a thyng, alias, how myhte it be,
That a woman off yens yong and tendre
Koude ymagyne so merueilous a thyng!
But offte it fallith, that creatures sclendre,
Vnder a face off angelik lokyng,
Been verrai wolues outward in werkyng.
Eek vnder colour off ther port femynyne,
Suwme be founde verray serpentyne,
Lambis in shewyng, shadwid with meeknesse,
Cruel as tigres, who doth to hem offence,
Off humble cheer pretendyng a liknesse.
But, o alias! what harm doth apparence.
What damage doth countirfet innocence,
Viidir a mantil shrowdid off womanheed.
Whan feyned falsnesse doth ther bridil leed!
For this Scilla, the kyngis doubter deere.
In whom he sette hool his affeccioun,
His hertis ioie, his plesaunce most enteere.
His worldli blisse, his consolacioun, —
But she al turned to his confusioun,
Nat lich a doubter, but lik a sorceresse
His deth compassid, the story berth witnesse.
Hir fadir hadde a fatal her that shon
Brihtere than gold, in which he dede assure
Manli to fihte* a-geyn his mortal fon;
For on his hed[e] whil it dede endure.
He sholde venquysshe bi manhod, & recure,
And thoruh his knyhthod, to his encres off glor>'.
In euery quarell wynnen the victory.
But whil hir fadir kyng Nisus lay & sleep,
Vpon a nyht, parcel affor day,
Ful secreli, or that he took keep,
The her off gold this Scilla kit away;
And onto Mjmos, armyd wher he lay.
2500 a strange
thing for a
young
woman to
do.
2504
(but often
the most
2508 angelic ap-
pearing
creatures
2512
2516
are as cruel
as tigers).
2520
Like a
sorceress
2524
2528
2532
2536
she cut
away the
fatal hair
of gold from
Nisus' head.
2530.
2538.
fihte] fihten B.
kit] did H.
70
and, as Ovid
tells, took a
sharp knife
and killed
him.
Scylla slays her Father
[bk. I
She presented
her father's
head to
Minos
and declared
that her
love for him
had
constrained
her to do
this horrible
deed.
2540
2544
2552
2556
' 'Wherefore,
I pray, consider,
like a gentle
knight.
and accept '
my love.
She it presentid thoruh hir ordynaunce,
Off fals entent hym for to do plesaunce.
But in this mateer, lik as writ Guide,
Methamorphoseos, who-so taketh heed,
Hir fadir slepyng, she knelyng hi his side.
Took a sharp knyfF withoute feer or dreed,
Whil he lay nakid, she kai-fF a-too his hed,
Stal hir way[e] off ful fals entent.
And to kyng Mynos the hed she doth present. 2548
And in hir comyng onto his presence,
Hir fadris hed whan she afforn hym laide,
No-thyng a-shamed off hir gret offence.
Onto Mynos thus she dede abraide.
And with bold cheer[e] euene thus she saide:
"Mi lord," quod She, "with support off your grace,
Yeueth to my tale leiser tyme and space;
Certis, my lord, loue hath excitid me [p. 33]
And constreynyd to this cruel deede.
To slen my fader, destroien my cite,
Forgete my worshep, forsaken womanheede.
And maad me hardi to make my fader bleede — 2560
Thynges horrible thus I haue vndertake
For tacomplisshe onli for your sake.
Mi-silff disheritid for loue off your persone,
Callid in my contre a fals traitouresse,
Disconsolat stole a-wey a-lone.
Off newe diffamed, named a maistresse
Off fals moordre, I brynge a gret witnesse.
Mi fadres hed and his dedli visage,
A-geyn nature to forthren your viage.
Wherfore, I praie that ye list aduertise,
And considreth lich a gentil knyht
How I, for loue toward your gret emprise,
And to gret fortheryng also off your ryht,
Haue first my fader depryued off his myht,
Rafft hym his liff, dispoiled his richesse
To do plesaunce to your hih noblesse.
And no-thyng axe onto my guerdoun
Nor to my reward that myhte me auaile,
But that I myhte haue ful possessioun
2564
2568
2572
2576
2548. present] sent R.
2559. forsake R.
BK. ij
Minos* Ahborrence of the Deed
71
Off your p<rrsone, most worthi in bataile;
For ther is no tresor that myhte countiruaile
To my desir, as that ye wolde in deede
Goodli accepte me and my maidenheede.
Ye may me saue & spille with a woord.
Make most glad and most dolerous;
I nat requere ofF you, my souereyn lord,
But that ye wolde be to me gracious:
For blood and kyn, and my fad res hous
Al lefFt behynde, yiiF ye list aduerte,
And vndepartid youe to you myn herte.
Which to your hihnesse auhte inouh suffise,
All thynge considred, in your roial estat,
Conceyued also in how vnkouth wise
For your loue I stonde desolat,
Sauff off your mercy fulli disconsolat.
Heere is al and sum, your loue I beie to sore,
But ye do grace; I can sey you no more."
And whan she hadde hir tale told knelyng,
With a maner pretense ofF womanheed,
OfF al hir tresoun a poynt nat concelyng,
The kyng astonyd off hir horrible deed,
Bi gret auys peised and took heed,
It was not sittyng to prynce nor to no kyng
To do fauour to so froward a thyng.
With troublid herte and with a face pale,
His look vpcast, [he] seide, "God forbeede.
That euer in cronycle, in story or in tale,
That any man sholde off Mynos reede,
How he supported so venymous a deede —
Fauoure a woman, alias and wellaway!
Which slouh hir fader whan he a-bedde lay.
But for your hatful and vnkyndli rage,
I pray the goddis echon and Satume
To take vengaunce on your fals outrage:
For euery-wher, wher ye do retume.
And eueri place wher-as ye soioume,
2585. dolorous H.
2589. Al] And R.
*S93- Conceyued] And conceyve H.
2603. no] om. H.
2606. he] om. R, J, P, H s.
2608. That] Tat R.
2580
2584
2588
2592
2596
2600
" I have left
all behind
for your
take."
\Imos was
horrified.
2604
2608
Said he,
"God forbid
that Minos
should ever
countenance
tudi a deed.
2612 "May the
gods take
vengeance
on you!
2616
72
" Begone from
my court!
"May Tellus
and Neptune
refuse you
an abiding-
place!"
The gods
turned
Scylla into
a quail
and her
father into
a sparrow-
hawk. That
was their
end.
The End of Nisus and Scylla []bk. i
Lond and se, shortli to expresse,
Thei been infect with your cursidnesse.
Your owne mouth your outrage doth accuse;
And your accus is so abhomynable, 2620
That your gifFtis I fulli do refuse, —
Thei be so froward and repreuable.
And your persone, disnaturel & vnstable,
Withynne my court, it were a thyng nat fayr, 2624
That ye sholde a-bide or haue repair.
Ye be so hatful vpon eueri side
And contrarious off condiciouw,
I praie Tellus, which off the erthe is guide, 2628
And to Neptunus I make this orisoun:
As ferr as strecchith ther domynacioun
Vnder the bouwdis off ther regalie,
A duellyng-place that thei to you denye!" 2632
Whan Mynos hadde his answer thus deuised.
On resoun grouwdid and on equite,
And Scilla sauh how she was despised.
Knew no parti, passage nor contre 2636
To fynde socour whedir she myhte fle.
But disespeired as a traitouresse.
Toward the se a-noon she gan hir dresse
Tentre the water pleynli yiff she myhte, [p. 34] 2640
For verrai shame hirseluen for to shrowde;
And whan the goddis theroff hadde a syhte,
Thei turned hire, as thei that myhte & kowde,
In-ta quaile for to synge lowde. 2644
Hir fader Nisus thei dede also transmue
In ta sperhauk, the quaile to pursue.
This was the eende off Nisus & off Scille.
And afftirvf ard off Athenes the toun 2648
Was yolden vp to stonden at the wille
Off kyng Mynos, withoute condicioun;
Euery thre yeer bi reuoluciouw
Thei off the cite sholde nat dellaie 2652
Nyne off ther childre for a tribut paie.
2640. The second hand begins here R.
2643. that] om. R.
2645. transmuel remewe R.
2646. sperhaukjsparow R, sparhawke H.
2647. 2nd oflQ om. R.
2651. thre] om. R.
BK. l]
Tbg Minotaur
73
This was bi Mynos thymposicloun
Vpon Athenys; and off verrai dreed
Thei obeied, as maad is mencioun, 2656
And ther childre yeer bi yeer thei leed
Into Crete the Mynotaur to feed,
Onto this monstre ordeyned for repast,
Which at ther comyng deuoured wer in hast. 2660
But or that I ferthere do proceede
In this mater, I will do my cure
To declare, yiff ye list take heede.
Off this monstre to telle the engendrure,* 2664
Vnkouth to heere and a-geyn nature;
For bi the writyng off Ouidius,
This ougli beeste was engendrid thus,
Methamorphoseos, the maner ye may see: 2668
Mynos hadde a bole off gret faimesse,
Whit as mylk; and the queen Pasiphe
Loued hym so bote, the story berth witnesse,
And Dedalus dede his besynesse 267a
[|Bi sotil craft, & made his gynnys so.
That ayenst kynde with hir he had to do.
And conceyued a beest[e] monstruous.
That was departid, halfe bole, half man; 2676
And as the poete bi wrytyng techith vs.
Off Mynotaurus thus the name began.
And Dedalus, not long aftir whan]
That this monstre was bi the queen forth
brouht, 26S0
This subtil werkman hath an hous Iwrouht
Callid Laboryntus,* dyuers and vnkouth,
Ful off wrynkles and off straungenesse,
Ougli to knowe which is north or* south, 2684
Or to what part a man sholde hym dresse;
Folk were ther blent with furious derknesse.
Who that entred, his retourn was in veyn,
Withoute a clue for to resorte a-geyn. 2688
2654. bi] of H, R 3. 2657. children R.
2658. M>Tiatour R. 2659. this] the R. 2662. will] woId^R.
2664. telle the engendi-ure] tellen thengendrure B, H.
2670. Posiphee R. 2673-9 a*"' supplied from R, om. in B, H.
2676. halfe a bull P. 2677. bi] om. P.
2678. Mynataurus J, Mynotouris H. 2682. Lobor>-ntus B.
2684. or] & B.
Minos,
vjctorioui
over the
Athenians,
compelled
them to
scad 9 chil-
dren every
3 years to
the Minotaur
The Minotaur
was the off-
spring of
Pasiphae and
a white bull.
The bull
lived in
the Labyrinth
made by
Daedalus,
74
a place like
a prison,
where it
devoured
human flesh.
Some books,
however, say
that Pasiphae
had a child by
Taurus, a
secretary, —
which would
explain the
matter of
the bull.
Wives are a
bad lot, but
we do not
discard a
falcon for
one fault.
To return to
the Athenians,
they paid
their tribute;
Wives are a Bad Lot [bk. i
Off Mynotaurus this was the habltacle,
Lik a prisoun maad for tormentrie,
For dampnyd folk a peynful tabernacle;
For all that lay ther in iupartie, 2692
The monstre muste deuoure hem & defie:
And speciali was ordeyned this torment
For all that wern doun from Athenys sent.
But in this mater suwme bookis varie, 2696
And afFerme how queen Pasiphe
Off kyng Mynos loued a secretarie
Callid Taurus, in Bochas ye may see;
And thus the kyng, for al his rialte, 2700
Deceyued was, for who may any while
HymsilfF preserue wher women list begile?
For bi this Taurus, Bochas berth witnesse,
Queen Pasiphe hadde a child ful fair, 2704
Mynos nat knowyng bi no liklynesse
But that the child was born to been his hair.
His trust was good, he fill in no dispair;
For some husbondis, as poetis han compiled, 2708
Which most assure [hem] rathest been begiled.
Innocentis can nat deeme a-mysse,
Namli ofFwyues that be fouwde trewe;
Clerkis may write, but doutles thus it isse, 2712
Off ther nature thei loue no thynges newe:
Stedfast off herte, thei chaunge nat her hewe;
Hawkes best preued, suwwhile a chek can make,
Yit for o faute the foul is nat forsake. 2716
Off these materes write I will no more.
But ay the tribut & seruage off the town
Procedith foorth, thei cowstreyned wer so sore,
Lich as ther lott turned up and doun; 2720
For ther was maad[e] non excepcioun
Off hih nor louh, nothir for sour nor swete,
But as it fill, thei were sent into Crete.
2695. from Atthenes doun sent R.
2696. bookis] folk R. 2697. Posiphe R.
2704. Posiphe R. 2705. liklynesse] liknesse R.
2706. that at R.
2709. hem] om. J, R. 2715. sumwhlle] sume tyme R —
can] gan R.
2716. o] a R — fouyl R.
2717. these materes] this mateer R — will I R.
2719. wer constreynyd R. 2721. made was R.
BK. l3
The Adventures of Theseus
75
2724
2728
The* statut was so inli rigerous,
Thei took ther sort as it cam a-boute,
Til atte laste it fill on Theseus,
That he mut gon foorth a-mong the route,
Kyng Eges sone, beyng in gret doute
Touchyng his liiF, which myht nat be socoured,
But that he muste with othre be deuoured.
Which Theseus, for his worthynesse, [p, 35]
And off his knyhthod for the gret encres 2732
Thoruh manly force, & for his hih prowesse
Whilom was callid the seconde Hercules,
Mong Amazones put hymselfF in pres,
Weddid Ypolita, as bookis specefie.
The hardi queen [callid] off Femynye.
And afftirward to Thebes he is gon,
Halp there the ladies in especiall,
Which that cowpleyned vpon the kyng Creon,
Which hem destourbed, lik ther estat roiall
To holde and halwe the festis funerall
Off ther lordis, as queenys & pryncessis,
Off wifli trouthe to shewe ther kyndenessis.
For whan this Duk the maner hadde seyn,
And off Creon the grete iniquite,
To the ladies he made delyuere a-geyn
Ther lordis bonys, off routhe & off pite.
Yit in his youthe out off his cite
He was delyuered, bi statut ful odible.
To be deuoured off this beeste horrible.
He goth to prisoun, for al his semlynesse.
As the statut felli dede ordeyne;
But off routhe and off gentilesse,
Hym to preserue from that dedli peyne.
Off kyng Mynos the goodli douhtren tweyne,
Adriane shoop off a remedie,
And faire Phedra, that he shal nat die.
Thoruh ther helpe he hath the monstre slayn.
That was so dreedful & ougli for to see;
Bi hem he scapid, wheroff he was ful fayn.
and Theieu*.
3736
2740
2744
2748
2752
2756
who
afterward!
married
Hippolyte,
queen of the
Amazon*,
and helped
the ladies of
Thebc*
against the
tyranny of
Creon,
was
sent to
Minos,
whose
daughters re-
solved to
save him
from the
Minotaur,
which he slew.
^ He falscljr de-
2700 scrted
Ariadne for
Ph«dra,
2724. The] Ther B.
2735. Among Amozones he put R. 2736. Ipolito R.
2741. disturblid R. 2748. Ther] The R. 2757. ofr>m R.
2758. shal] shuld R. 2760. so] om. R. 2761. wheroflT] wherfor R.
76
Theseus forsakes Ariadne for Phadra
[bk.
and Ariadne
became the
wife of
Bacchus.
Unlike men,
women are
constant, un-
less their
husbands be-
have badly
to them.
Fortune was
unkind to
Minos:
Pasiphae com-
mitted
adultery
(husbands
should bear
such things
in patience),
his daughters
ran away,
the Minotaur
was killed,
Theseus es-
caped, Athens
was freed from
its tribute, and
Theseus for-
sook Ariadne
and married
Phaedra.
Lad hem with hym, toward his centre.
And hi the weie, deuoid off al pite,
Adriane he falsli hath forsake 2764
A-geyn his surance, & Phedra he hath take.
Amyd the se [he] lefFt hir in an ile,
Toward no parti she knew no declyn;
She crieth, wepith, alias, the harde while! 2768
For off hir fate this was the mortal fyn,
That for pite Bachus, the god off wyn,
Took hir to wyue, whos crowne of stonys fyne
Doth now in heuene with the sterris shyne. 2772
Thus off Theseus ye may beholde and see
To Adryane the gret onstedfastnesse,
The grete ontrouthe, the mutabilite.
The broke assurance and newfangilnesse; 2776
But celi women keepe ther stedfastnesse
Ay ondefouled, sauff, sumwhile off ther kynde,
Thei must hew purueie, whan men be* founde
onkynde.
Off Theseus I can no more now seyn 2780
In this mater to make off hym memorie,
But to kyng Mynos I will resorte a-geyn
To tell how Fortune, ay fals & transitorie,
In what poyntis diffacid hath his glorie. 2784
First off echon Bochas doth specefie
Off Pasiphe the foule aduout[e]rie,
Which was his wiff, and stood weel in his grace,
To his plesance she was most souerayne; 2788
But a cloude off [a] smal trespace
Made hir lord at hir to disdeyne:
But he off wisdam bar preuyli his peyne,
For in this cas, this is my sentence, 2792
Lat prudent husbondis take hem to pacience.
On* other thyngis Mynos gan compleyne,
Hauyng in herte theroff ful gret greuaunce,
That he so loste his faire douhtren tweyne, 2796
2764. full falsly he hath R. 2765. AyensteR — assuraunce R.
2766. Amyd] In myddis R, J, H J — he] om. H.
2768. She wepith she crieth R. 2772. the] ix. R.
2776. and] & the R. 2778. Ay] But euirre R — sumwhile]
sum tyme R. 2779. be] been B — founde] om. H.
2781. In]ofH. 2783. ay]eu/rreR. 2786. Posiphe R,
H s, Pasipha P. 2789. 2nd a] om. R, H, R 3, P.
2792. in this] such R. 2793. hem] hede R.
2794. On] And on B, H — Mynos] om. H — gan] gan also R, J.
BK. l]
Pbadra and Hippolytus
77
And Mynotaurus slay[e]n with myschaunce.
Eek onto hym it was a gret penaunce
That Theseus was gon at liberte,
And from al tribut delyuered his cite.
It greued hym eek in contenance & cheer.
That Theseus Adriane forsook,
It hked hym nat also the maneer
Onto his wiff that he Phedra took;
And yit this Phedra, lich as seith my book,
Hadde too sonys bi this Theseus,
First Demephon & next Anthilocus.
Eek Theseus afftir gan hym drawe
Toward Cecile, in steel armyd cleene,
With Pirotheus, in armys his felawe.
For to rauysshe Proserpyna the queene.
But off entent Phedra ful oncleene,
Loued hir stepsone callid Ypolitus.
But for he was to hire daungerous.
And to hir lust froward and contrarie,
In his apport nat goodli nor benigne,
Off fals entent anon she gan to varie.
And a-geyn hym ful felli to maligne,
With a pretence off many tokne & signe
Off womanhed, she gan hym accuse.
Hire auoutry falsli to excuse.
Who seith that women can nat ymagyne
In ther diffence talis ful vntrewe.
To ther desir yiff men list nat enclyne
Nor on ther feyned fals[e] wo to rewe,
Anon thei can compasse[n] thynges newe,
Fisshe and fynde out in ther entencioun
A couert cloude to shadwe ther tresoun.
She hath accusid yonge Ypolitus
Off fals auoutri in his tendre age,
Tolde & affermed to duk Theseus,
With ful bold cheer[e] & a pleyn visage.
How he purposed in his furious rage
2800
2804
2808
2S12
[p. 36]
2816
2820
2824
2828
2832
2798, 2801, 2808. Eek] Also R, 2803. nat] nouth R.
2804. he] sche R. 2807. Demophan R.
2816. nor] ne R. 2818. ayens his R. 2819. many a H.
2823. ful] om. R.
2825. Nor] Neithir R — fals feyned R. 2826. compassh R.
2832. a] om. R.
Theseuj then
went to Sicfly,
and Phxdra
fell in love
with her
step-«on
Hippolytus.
■When he
repulsed her,
she turned
on him
(women are
well able to
lie in_ their
own interest)
and accused
him to
Theseus of
improper con-
duct toward
her.
78
The Death of Hippolytus
[bk. I
(Women are
sometimes
very un-
truthful;
of course I
don't mean
good and in-
nocent ones,
but there
are very few
of that sort.)
Hippolytus
was frightened
and fled.
His horses
ran away
and he and his
chariot were
overwhelmed
by a landslide;
and Phaedra,
fearing the
vengeance
of Theseus,
slew herself.
Onli bi force hir beute to oppresse,
HIr lord besechyng to refourme & redresse
The grete iniurie doon onto his wifF 2836
Whil he was absent for thyngis that bar charge.
Wyues off talis been sumwhile inuentifF
To sufFre ther tunges falsli fleen at large;
But folk that list off dauwger hem discharge, 2840
Off such accusyng ne take thei noon heed
Til the trouthe be tried out in deed.
I meene nothyng off wyues that been goode,
Nor off women that floure in innocence; 2844
For God forbeede, and the Hooli Roode,
But men sholde do deu reuerence
To ther noblesse and ther excellence,
Declare ther bounte and ther vertu shewe, 2848
And more them cherisshe be-cause ther be so fewe.
Touchyng thaccusyng ageyn Ypolitus,
Thouh it so were that it was fals in deede,
Yit he for shame and* feer off Theseus, 2852
As in the story ye may beholde and reede,
In his herte he cauhte a maner dreede.
That he, alias! this cely yonge knyht,
Fledde & withdrouh hym out off his fadris siht, 2856
His indignaciouw pleynli to eschewe,
Thouh bi desert in hym ther was no lak.
Off hasti dreed as he gan remewe
Other in a chaar or vpon hors[e]bak, 2860
His hors affraied, ther fill a sodeyn wrak
DouM from a roche pendant, as ye shal lere —
He and his chaar wer drownyd bothe Ifeere.
Thus ongilti, in his most lusti youthe 2864
He was conueied to his destrucciouw;
The sclandre conspired, as it is weel kouthe,
Bi fals[e] Phedra: but in conclusioun
The sclandre turned to hir confusioun; 2868
For whan she wiste Ypolitus was ded
Thoruh hir defaute, anon for shame & dreed
2834. oppresse]] presse R. 2835. redresse] dresse R.
2836. iniurie] iniquyte R — onto] to R.
2838. suTwtyme been R.
2840. folkis R — daunger] damage R.
2850. thaccusyng] this accusyng R.
2851. 2nd it] he R — was] wer H. 2852. and] and for B.
BK. i}
Pbadras End. Sis era
She took a* swerd, ful sharpfe] whet & grounde,
And therwithall she roofF hir herte on tweyne. 2872
Loo, how that vengaunce will euer* a-geyn rebounde
On hem that falsli doon ther bisi peyne
To sclandre folk; for lik as thei ordeyne
With ther defautis othir folkis tattwite,
God atte laste ther malice can acquite!
Yit summe bookis off Phedra do recorde
That she, a-shamyd & confus off this deede,
Heeng hirsilff up ful hih[e] with a corde.
Loo, how fals sclandre can quite folk ther meede!
Wherfore, I counseile eueri man tak heede.
In such materis as stonde in noun certeyn,
From hasti doomys his tunge to restreyn. 2884
2876
28S0
79
Such things
happen to
people who
sunder other*.
And it woold
also be well
for men not
to draw
hasty con-
clusions, as
Theseus seems
to have done.
AMONG these stories woful for to reede,
Al bespreynt with teris in his face,
Ful sodenli, lohn Mochas gan take* heede,
A-myd the pres Zizara cam in place — 2888
And how that Fortune gan eek to manace
This proude duk, ful myhti & notable.
Off kyng labyn callid the grete constable.
Off his boost ledere and gouemour.
To Israel verray mortall fo;
With peeple he rood lich a conquerour.
And wher that euer his meyne dede go.
The erthe quook, peeplis drad hym so, 2896
Fledde from his face wher-as he caw a-ferre.
Nyne hundred waynes he hadde for the werre,
Strongli enarmedwith hookesmadelyk*sithes, [p. 37]
Whothatapprochedtomayme*hym &towounde. 2900
For this tirant off custum offte sithes
2871. a] his B, hir H — sherp I whet & groun R.
2872. roofF] raff R — on twejTie] atwevne R.
2873. that] om. H — euer] ay B, H, R 3, om. P.
2876. defautis] diffamys — to atwjte R.
2877. malice] mateer« H — can] gan R.
2880. ful] wol H. 2881. folk qu\-te for ^ mede R.
2884. hasti] om. H — hasti doomvs] his hasty language R.
2887. take] taken B. J- b s
2888. A-mvd] In middes R — in] to R.
2889. eek] also R. 2896. peple R.
2899. made lyk] & with B, H.
2900. mayrae] mayne B, H, H 5 — hym] cm. R, J.
Sisera,
Jabin's
general.
2892 njortal ioc
to the Jews,
8o
The Jews are ruled by Deborah
[bk. I
was suffered
by God to
chastise their
sins.
But when
they repented,
God sent
Deborah in
their defence,
who became
their leader
and judge.
Hadde gret delit the lewes to confounde;
And alle tho that his swerd hath fouwde,
Kyng labyn bad, the prynce ofF Canaan, 2904
In Israel to spare child nor man.
This Zizara was sent to been ther scourge,
Bi Goddis suffrance ther synnes to chastise,
Ther olde offences to punshen & to pourge, 2908
As a flagelle, in many sundry wise;
But whan off resoun thei gan hem bet deuyse,
And for ther trespacis to falle in repentaunce,
God gan withdrawe the hand off his vengaunce. 2912
For in ther myscheef thei gan the * Lord to knowe,
Felyng the prikke off his punyciouw;
And mercy thanne hath vnbent the bowe
Off his fell ire and castigacioun: 2916
To God thei made ther inuocacioun,
And he hem herde in ther mortal dreede.
In ludicuw the story ye may reede,
How in the while that this Zizara
Shoop hym off newe lewes to oppresse.
In ther diffence God sent hem Delbora,
A prophetesse, the story berth witnesse.
To yeue hem counsail ther harmys to redresse,
And bi the sperit off hir prophecye
For to withstonde the grete tirannye
Off Zizara, which was descendid doun
With a gret boost into the feeld repeired.
But Delbora, of hih discrecioun,
Whan that she sauh the lewes disespeired,
And for to fihte ther corages sore appeired,
She made hem first deuoutli in ther dreed
To crie to God to helpe hem in ther need.
She ^as ther iuge and ther gouerneresse,
Cheeff off ther couwsail; & off custom she,
Causis dependyng, bi gret avisynesse,
That stood in doute, bi doom off equite
She tried hem out vnder a palme tre,
2920
2924
2928
2932
2936
2904. thei om. R. 2905. nor] ne J, R 3, H 5, P.
2910. betj bettirr R. 291 1, ther] the R.
2912. gan] can R. 2913. the] ther B, H,
2919. Marginal note in R: "No/a ludicum iiij Ca"."
2921. the lewis R.
2928. hoost] coste R. 2932. ther] \»at R. 2936. bi] of R.
BK. l]
Dehorab overcomes Sisera
8i
And was nat hasty* no mater to termyne
Til she the parties aflFor dede examyne. 2940
And whan she knew & herde off the komyng
Off Zizara with ful gret puissaunce,
That was constable off the myhti kyng
Callid labyn, with al his ordenaunce, 2944
Vpon lewes for to doon vengaunce,
This Delbora gan prudentli entende
The lewes parti hi wisdam to diffende.
She bad Barach, hir husbonde, anon riht i948
OflF Neptalym ten thousend with hym take,
Geyn Zizara to fihten for ther riht,
And that he sholde a gret enarme make.
But he for dreed this ioume gan forsake, 2952
And durste nat a-geyn hym tho werreye
But she were present, and list hym to conveye.
"Weel weel," quod she, "sithe it stondith so.
That off wantrust ye haue a maner dreed, 2956
I will my-silff[e] gladli with you go,
You to supporte in this grete need;
But tristith fulli, as ye shal fynde in deed.
That a woman, with laude, honour & glor>'^e, 2960
Shal fro you wynne the pris off this victorj^e."
It folwid afftir sothli as she saide.
Auysili she made hir ordynaunce,
And the cheeff charge on hirsilff she laide, 2964
As pr3mcesse off lewes gouemaunce.
And prudentli gan hirsilff auaunce,
With God conueied & support off his grace,
With Zizara to meetyn in the face. 2968
And specialli touchyng this viage,
God took a-way the sperit and the myht
Fro Zizara, his force and his corage,
That he was ferfull tentren into fyht, 2972
Kepte his chaar & took hym onto flyht,
Knowyng no place seurli in tabide.
Til that label, a woman, dede hym hide
2939. hasty] hardi B, hardy H.
2940. affome H. 2941. herd & knew R.
2948. Barish H.
2950. GejTi] Ajens R.
2956. That] Than H. 2972. feerdful R.
2973. onto] into R. 2975. lael R.
When the
heard that
Sisera had
come with
his army.
she bade
Barak, her
husband, lead
a host against
him. But a5
Barak was
afraid.
she herself
took com-
mand of hi]
forces.
Sisera fled
to the tent
of a woman
caUed Jael.
82
who
drove a nail
into his
head while
he slept.
The Death of the Tyrant Sis era
Cbk. I
Such is the
fate of
tyrants!
Let Sisera be
an example
to you. No
lordship en-
dures with-
out virtue.
Sisera's pride
was humbled,
when he stood
at the height
of his glory.
Withywne hir tente, almost ded for dreed, 2976
Vnder a mantell desirous for to drynke.
She gaiF hym mylk; the slep fill in his hed,
And whil that he for heuynesse gan wynke
And sadli slepte, she gan hir to be-thynke; 2980
Thouhte she wolde for Zizara so shape,
That with the lifF he shulde nat escape.
She took a nail that was sharp & long, [p. 38]
And couertli gan hirsilfF auauwce; 2984
With an hamer myhti, round & strong
She drofF the nail — loo, this was hir vengaunce! —
Thoruhout his hed : seeth heer Jje sodeyw chauwce
Off tirantis that trusten on Fortune, 2988
Which wil nat sufFre hem longe to cowtune
In ther fals vsurped tirannye
To holde peeplis in long subiecciouw.
She can hem blandissh* with hir flat[e]rye 2992
Vnder a colour off fals collusiouw,
And with a sodeyn transmutaciouw
Fortune hem can, that pore folkis trouble,
Reuerse ther pride with hir face double.
What sholde I lengere in this mater tarye.?
Thouh that lordshep be myhti & famous,
Lat Zizara been your exauwplarye.
It nat endureth but it be vertuous.
Conquest, victory, thouh thei be glorious.
Onto the world, yifF vertu be behynde.
Men nat reioise to haue ther name in mynde.
For Fortune thoruh hir frowardnesse
Hath kyngis put out off ther regiouws,
And she hath also thoruh hir doubilnesse
Destroied lynages, with ther successiouws:
Made she nat whilom hir translaciouws
Off the kyngdam callid Argyuois,
To be transportid to Lacedemonois.?
The same tyme whan Zizara the proude
Gan Goddis peeple to putte vnder foote,
Famys truwpe bleuh his name up loude
2996
3000
3004
3008
3012
2986. this was hir] heer H. 2988. OfF] On R.
2992. blandisshen B. 2995. folk R. 2996. hir] the R.
3008. whilom] sume tyme R. 3010. Lacidomonois R, J.
3013. Famys] Fame his R.
BK. 0
How Gideon defeated the Midianites
With sugred sownys semyng wonder soote;
But al his pride was rent up hi the roote,
Whan that his glori was outward most shewyng;3oi6
But who may truste on any worldli thyng!
83
FOLK han afFom seyn the fundacioun,
Bi remembraunce off old antiquite,
OfF myhti Troye and* ofF Ylioun,
Afftir destroied bi Grekis that cite.
To vs declaryng the mutabiHte
OiF fals Fortune, whos fauowr last no while,
Shewyng ay trewest whan she will begile.
So variable she is in hir delites,
Hir wheel vntrusti & frowardli meuyng,
Record I take off the Madianytes,
Ther vnwar fall ful doolfully pleynyng,
Which shewed hemsilff [ful] pitousli wepyng
To lohn Bocha/, as he in writyng souhte
How that Fortune a-geyn ther princis wrouhte,
Which that gouemed the lond off Madian,
Trustyng off pride in ther gret puissaunce;
And a-geyn lewes a werre thei be-gan,
Purposyng to brynge hem to vttraunce:
But God that holdeth off werre the balaunce.
And can off pryncis oppresse the veynglory,
Yeueth wher hym list conquest & victory,
Nat to gret nouwbre nor to gret multitude,
But to that parti where he seeth the riht;
His dreedful hand, shortli to conclude,
So halt up bi grace and yeueth liht*
The hiere hand, where he caste his siht;
List his power and his fauour shewe,
Be it to many or be it onto fewe.
The wrong[e] parti gladli hath a fall,
Thouh ther be mylliouns many mo than oon:
I take witnesse off leroboall.
Fortune's
favour dcei
not last
long.
3020
3024
3028
Think of the
Midianites,
who came
weeping to
Bochas.
3032
They begin
a war on
3036 -^tejews.
but God
gives victory
-„.- not to num-
3°40 bcrs but to
right.
3044
3048
3014. sugred] sacrid R.
3018. fimyacioun J. 3020. and] and eek B.
3024. ay trewest] euer trust R. 3030. writjTig] bokys H.
3039. nor] ne R.
3042. halt] holdith H 5 — So haldith vp his grace P — liht]
to eu^ry wiht B, H, euery wight P.
3046. in R: nofa Ca° vj & Ca° vij ludicuwi.
84
Gideon and the Midianites
Hbk. I
Gideon de-
feated the
Midianites
with 300 men.
Although he
was weak, in
numbers,
God gave
him victory.
They ter-
rified their
enemies by
blowing their
trumpets,
breaking
empty pots
and suddenly
shewing the
light of their
lamps.
Which is also callid Gedeon,
That with thre hundrid fauht a-geyn the foon
Off Israeli, the Bible can deuyse,
Whan he to God hadde doon his sacrefise.
Shewyng to hym a signe merueilous,
Whan the flees with siluer deuh ful sheene
Was spreynt and wet, the story tellith thus,
And round a-boute the soil and al the greene
Was founde drie, and no drope scene.
In tokne onli, this duk, this knyhtli man,
Shold ha[ue] victory off al Madian.
Thus Gedeon took with hym but a fewe,
Thre hundred chose, which laped* the ryuer,
God onto hym such toknys dede shewe
And euydencis afForn that wer ful cleer.
That he sholde been off riht good cheer
And on no parti his aduersaries dreede,
For no* prowesse nouthir* [for] manheede.
Where God a-boue holdith* chauwpartie.
There may a-geyn hym be makid no diffence;
Force, strengthe, wisdam nor cheualrie
A-geyns his myht ar feeble ofi^ resistence.
This was weel preued in experience.
Whan thre hundred with Gedeon in noumbre
So many thousandis bi grace dede encoumbre.
This said[e] peeple, deuyded into thre.
With ther trumpis, vpon the dirk[e] nyht,
Bi Gedeon, that hadde the souereynte.
With void[e] pottis & laumpis therynne lyht;
And thus arraied thei entred into fyht.
But onto hem this tokne was first knowe:
Whan Gedeon his truwpe dede blowe,
Thei bleuh echon & loude gan to crie,
Brak ther pottis and shewed anon riht,
As the story pleynli doth specefie.
3052
3056
3060
3064
[p. 39]
3068
3072
3076
3080
3050. thre]] iij B.
3061. laped] scaped B, P, H 5, scapid H, J, scapide R 3 —
which] with R. 3064.] om. R.
3066. For no] ne for noo R 3, — no] nouht B, noujt J, nought
H s — nouthir] nor B, neithir R, xxt\\>eT J, neyther P.
3067. holdith] halt B, H. 3069. nor] nethir R,
3070. ar] or R. 3075. trumpis] triumphis R.
3083. doth pleynly R.
BK. l]
The Envoy to Gideon
85
Ther laumpis shewed with a ful sodeyn liht,
Wheroff ther enmyes, astonyd in ther siht,
Were so troublid vpon euery side,
That in the feeld thei durst[e] nat a-bide.
The cri was this off hem euerichon :
"Thank to the Lord most noble & glorious,
Pris to the suerd off myhti Gedeon,
Which vs hath causid to be victorious,
Maad our enmyes, most malicious,
Thoruh influence onli off his grace,
For verray feer to fleen affom our face!"
Thus can the Lord off his magnyficence
The meeke exalte & the proude oppresse,
Lich as he fyndeth in hertis difference,
So off his power he can his domys dresse,
Merci ay meynt with his rihtwisnesse.
His iugementis with long delay differrid;
And or he punshe, pite is ay preferrid.
3084 ^^ hereupon the
Midianitet
fled.
3088
3092
5096
3100
Thus the
Lord can
eialt the
meek and
humble the
proud.
C| Lenvoye.
MIHTI Princis, remembre that your power
Is transitory & no while a-bidyng.
As this tragedie hath rehersid heer 3104
Bi euidencis ful notable in shewyng.
And bexaumples, in substaunce witnessyng.
That all tirantis, platli to termyne,
Mut from ther staat sodenli declyne. 3108
Phebus is fresshest in his mydday speer,
His bemys brihtest & hattest out spredyng;
But cloudi skies ful offte approche neer
Teclipse his liht with ther vnwar comyng: 3112
Noon ertheli ioie is longe heer abidyng,
Record off Titan, which stound[e]meel doth shyne,
Yit toward nyht his stremys doun declyne.
Whan that Fortune is fairest off hir cheer 3 116
Bi apparence, and most blandisshyng,
Thanne is [she] falsest ech sesouw off the yeer,
Hir sodeyn chauwgis now vp now doun turnyng;
The nyhtyngale in May doth fresshli syng, 3120
3089. Thank] than H.
3109. Phebus is fresshest] Phebtt/ shen freish R.
3 1 10. out spredyng] out shewyng R. 3 119. chaunge R.
Princes, re-
member, your
power is not
lasting.
Phoebus is
brightest at
midday, but
his light is
often dimmed
by clouds.
When
Fortune seems
fairest, then
is she most
ready to
change.
86
The Fall of Jabin
[bk. I
Remember
the un-
certainty of
all earthly
happiness.
But a bakwynter can somer vndermyne
And al his fresshnesse sodenli declyne.
Al ertheli blisse dependith in a weer,
In a ballauwce oneuenli hangyng, — 3124
O Pryncis, Pryncessis most souereyn & enteer,
In this tragedie conceyueth be redyng,
How that estatis bi ful vnwar chaungyng,
Whilom ful worthi, ther lyues dede fyne, 3128
Whan fro ther noblesse thei wer maad to declyne.
Now I will
write about
the fall of
Jabin, rebel
to God,
who long
forbore to
punish him,
but finajly
threw him
down in the
midst of his
pride.
[Of mighty labjrn Kjmg of Canane, of quene locasta/
and how Thebes was destroied.]] ^
NOW must I write the grete sodeyn fall
Off myhti labyn for his iniquite,
Which onto lewes was ewmy ful mortall, 3132
With sceptre & crowne regnyng in Canane,
And vpon AfFrik hadde the souereynte,
Rebel to God, and list hym nat obeye.
But euer redi his peeple to werreye. 3136
The Lord a-boue, seyng the tiranwye,
Forbar his hand with ful long suffrauwce,
And was nat hasti on his obstynacye,
Lich his desert, for to do vengauwce; 3140
But ay this labyn bi contynuauwce
Endured foorth in his cursidnesse.
Til that the suerd off Goddis rihtwisnesse
Was whet ageyn hym, this tirant to chastise. 3144
And to represse his rebelliouw,
From his kyngdam, the story doth deuise,
Mid off his pride he was pullid doun,
Texemplefie wher domynacioun 3148
Is fouwde wilfuU trouthe to ouercaste,*
God wil nat suffre ther power longe laste.
For this labyn, founde alway froward, [p. 40]
Off hih disdeyn list nat the Lord to knowe, 3152
Therfore his power drouh alwey bakward,
3 121. abak wynter H 5, aback winter P.
3127. ful] om. R. 3128. Whilom] Sumtyme R.
3133. Chanane R. 3136. redi] redy is R. 3137. the] this R.
3141. ay]eu^rR. 3147. Mid] In myddis R.
3148. wher] the R.
3149. to ouercaste] touercaste B.
I MS. J. leaf 17 recto.
BK. l]
S^en Jocasta and Laius
And his empire was I-brouht ful lowe;
His roial fame Fortune hath ouerthrowe,
His name eclipsid, that whilom shon so cleer
Off grete Cison beside the ryueer.
3156
87
OFF queen locasta Bochas doth eek endite,
Pryncesse off Thebes, a myhti gret cite,
Off hir vnhappis he doolfulli doth write, 3160
Ymagynyng how he dede hir see
To hym appeere in gret aduersite,
Lich a woman that wolde in teres reyne.
For that Fortune gan at hir so disdeyne. 3164
Thouh she were diffacid off figure,
Ther shewed in hir a maner maieste
Off queenli honour, pleynli to discure
Hir infortunys and hir infeUcite, 3168
And to declare pleynH how that she
Off all princessis which euer stood in staat.
She was hirselff the moste infortunat.
Which gaff to Bochas ful gret occasioun, 3172
Whan he sauh hir pitous apparaile,
For to make a lamentacioun
Off vnkouth sorwe which dede hir assaile.
With a tragedie to wepyn and bewaile 3176
Hir inportable & straunge dedli striff.
Which that she hadde durj^ng al hir liff.
He wrot off hir a story large & pleyn,
And off hir birthe first he doth diffyne, 3180
And affermeth in his book certeyn.
She was descendid off a noble lyne;
In flouryng age eek whan she dede shyne,
She weddid was, for hir gret beute, 3184
Onto the kyng off Thebes the cite.
Which in his tyme was callid Layus.
And whan hir wombe bi processe gan arise.
The kyng was glad and also desirous 3188
31543 And his empire was aftir \)at brouht ful lowe R.
3156. whilom] some R. 3157. Cisoun J.
3158. eek] also R. 3168. hir felicittee R.
3170. stoden in estate R. 3171. the] om. R.
3173. sauh] seeth R. 3175. sorowis R.
3176. bewaile] to waile R.
3179. wrot] writ R, H, P, write H 5, writte J — a] om. R.
3183. eek] also R — she] l^Jt she R. 3187. arise] to rise H.
Bochas also
tells the story
of Queen
Jocasta,
who appeared
before him
proudly declar-
ing her misfor-
tunes.
She came of a
noble line and
married Laius,
king of Thebes,
88 The Infancy of (Edipus |^bk. i
The childes fate to knowe[n] in sum wise,
And thouhte he wolde go do sacrefise
Onto Appollo, to haue* knowyng aforn*
Touchyng this child whan that it were born. 3192
who. when she What sholdc folwcn in conclusioun,
became ^^ . i i • r
pregnant, He was desiFOus and hasti for to see,
asked Apollo 'p^. t • i i i- i- • •
what would be T irst Di the heuenli disposiciouw,
of the^cwid. And hi the fauour, yifF it wolde be, 3196
Off Appollos myhti deite
To haue answere, a-mong his rihtis all,
Off his child what fate ther sholde fall.
Apollo said it His answere, thouh it were contrarie 3200
was latcci to «-, i"i* • •! «jf*'!i
kill its father, lo his desir, yit was It thus* in deede:
Appollo told hym, & list no lenger tarie,
That this child sholde verraili in deede
Slen his fader, & make his sides bleede, 3204
And with his handis; ther was noon othir weie,
But on his swerd he muste needis deie.
When his son The kyng was heuy and trist off this sentence,
king bade men Sorful in hcrte, God wot, and no thyng fayn, 3208
death in a And caste afFom thoruh his prouidence,
crest. That his sone in al haste sholde be slayn.
And that he wolde nat oon hour delayn
AfFtir his berthe, but bad his men to goon 3212
Into a forest and sle the child a-noon.
Lik his biddyng the mynystres wrouhte in deede,
Takyng the child, tendre and yong off age;
And in-tafForest with hem thei gan it leede, 3216
To be deuoured off beestis most sauage:
The mooder, alias, fill almost in a rage,
Seyng hir child, so inli fair off face,
Shal thus be ded, and dede no trespace. 3220
His mother al- Litil wondcr thouh she felte smerte!
most went mad _, ,, _
for grief, 1 o all womcn 1 reporte me.
And onto moodres that be tendre off herte,
3189. fate] state R, staat J. 3191- to haue] ta B —
knowlychyng afForn R — aforn] beforn H, tofForn B.
3192. were] was R. 3193- What] That R.
3196. yifF] om. R. 3198. rihtis] wittis R.
3199. ther sholde fall] schuld befall R.
3201. thus] this B. 3205. noon othir] nd\^er R.
3208. sorowfull H — in] off R. 3209. thoruh] om. R.
321 1, delayn] delay R. 3215. yong & tendre H.
3216. into a forest R — it] hym R. 3218. almost fill into R.
BK. l]
(Edipus is rescued by a Shepherd
89
In this mater iuges for to be. 3224
Was it nat routhe, was it nat pite.
That a pryncesse and a queen, alias,
Sholde knowyn hir child deuoured in such cas!
AfFtir his berthe Layus took good keep, 3228
Withoute mercy, respit or delay,
That onto oon, which that kepte his sheep,
This yonge child vpon a certeyn day
Shal be delyuered in al the haste he may, 3232
To this entent, it myht nat be socourid,
But that he sholde off beestis be deuourid.
This seid[e] shepperde goth foorth a-noon riht, [p.41]
The child beholdyng, benygne off look & face, 3236
Thouhte in his herte & in his inward siht.
He sholde doon to God a gret trespace
To slen this child; wherfore he dede hym grace, —
Took first a knyfF, & dede his besi peyne 3240
Thoruhout his feet to make holis tweyne.
Took a smal* rod off a yong* oseer,
Perced the feet, alias, it was pite! —
Bond hj'm faste, and bi good leiseer 3244
The yonge child he heeng vpon a tre.
Off entent that he ne sholde be
Thoruh wilde beestis, cruel & sauage.
Been sodenli deuoured in ther rage. 324S
Vpon the tre whil he heeng thus bounde.
Off auenture bi sum occasioun,
A straunge shepperde hath the child I-founde, •
Which that off routhe & pite* took hym doun, 3252
Bar it with hym hoom onto his toun.
Made his wiff for to doon hir peyne
To fostre the child with hir brestis tweyne.
And whan he was brouht foorth & recurid, 3256
And ful maad hool off his woundis sore.
The yonge child, which al this hath endurid,
When he in age gan to wexe more,
And that nature gan hym to restore, 3260
The said[e] shepperde, that loued hym best off all,
Afftir his hurtis Edippus dede hym call.
3230. which] om. R. 3241. feet] hert R.
3242. smal aTid yong are transposed in B — osier R, P, H 5.
3252. pite & routhe B, P. 3253. onto] in to R.
3258. The] This R. 3259. began R.
which was not
astooishing
in the
circumstances.
But the shep-
herd who was
commanded
to slay the
child had
compassion,
and, piercing
his feet, hung
him up in a
tree.
where he was
found by an-
other shep-
herd, who
cared for him.
and called him
CEdipus,
90
(Edipus is adopted by the King of Corinth [bk. i
and presented
him to Queen
Merope, wife
of Polybus.
Thus CEdipus
became the
adopted son
and heir of the
king of
Corinth.
How sudden
are the
changes of
Fortune!
People who
are brought
low should not
complain.
God can as
quickly raise
them-j^up
again.
For Edippus is no more to seyne,
Who that conceyueth thexposicioun, 3264
But feet Ipershid throuhout bothe tweyne,
In that language, as maad is menciouw.
And to Meropa, wyfF off kyng PoHboun,
The shepperde, ofF ful humble entente, 3268
Gan the child ful lowli to presente.
And for she was bareyn off nature.
She and the kyng off oon afFeccioun
Took Edippus bothe into ther cure, 3272
As sone and heir bi adopciouw,
To regne in Corynthe bi successiouw;
The kyng, the queen off Corynthe the contre
Haddyn the child in so gret cheerte. 3276
Let men considre in ther discreciouw
Sodeyn chauwg off euery maner thyng:
This child sent out for his destruccioun,
And now prouydid for to been a kyng; 3280
And thoruh Fortune, ay double in hir werkyng.
He that was refus to beestis most sauage.
Is now receyued to kyngli heritage.
Destitut he was off his kenreede, 3284
Forsake and abiect off blood & off allie.
In tendre youthe his feet wer maad to bleede,
Heeng on a tre and gan for helpe crie;
But God that can in myscheefF magnefie 3288
And reconforte folk disconsolat.
Hath maad this child now so fortunat,
And prouyded to been a kyngis heir,
OfF hym that stood off deth in auenture. 3292
Fortune can shewe hir-selff bothe foul & fair,
Folkis brouht lowe ful weel a~geyn recure;
And such as can pacientli endure.
And list nat gruchch a-geyn ther chastisyng, 3296
God out off myscheeff can sodenli hem bryng.
But whan Edippus was growe vp to good age,
Lich a yong prynce encresyng in noblesse,
Lusti and strong, and fresh off his corage, 3300
3269. Be gan R, J.
3286. youthej yough R.
3287. on] vp on R — bigan for to crie R — helpe] to H.
3295. such as can] sich (siche) as paaently can R, J.
3299. encresshyng R.
BK. l]
(Edipus is iold his Fate
91
CEdipus soon
learned that he
was not the
real son of
King Polybus,
and consulting
the oracle of
Apollo,
Off auenture it fill so in sothnesse,
Other be strifF or be sum frowardnesse,
Or be sum contek, he hadde knowlechyng
How he was nat sone onto the kyng 3304
As be discent, but a ferr foreyn.
Wherupon ful sore he gan to muse,
And for to knowe and be put in certeyn,
Thouhte he wolde sum maner practik vse; 3308
And to the kyng he gan hymselff excuse,
For a tyme withdrawyn his presence,
Til that he knew bi sum experience
Or bi sum signe how the mateer stood. 3312
Thouhte he wolde doon his dilligence
To knowe his fader, and also off what blood
He was descendid, and haue sum euidence
Touchyng trouthe, how it stood in sentence. 3316
And heerupon to be certefied.
Toward AppoUo faste he hath hym hied.
Which in Cirra worsheped was that tyme,
And yaff answeris thoruh his deite
To folk that cam, at euen and at pryme.
Off eueri doute and ambiguite.
And there Edippus, fallyng on his kne,
Afftir his offryng hadde answere anoon.
Toward Greece that he sholde goon
Onto a mounteyn that Phocis bar the name;
And there he sholde off his kenrede heere.
Eek lik his fate the answere was the same: 3328
He sholde slen his owne fader deere.
And afftir that to Thebes drawe hym neere,
Wedde his mooder, off verray ignoraunce,
Callid locasta, thoruh his vnhappi chaunce. 3332
He list no lengere tarien nor abide, which he did.
This said Edippus, but foorth in haste goth he.
And on his weye he gan [anon] to ride.
Til he the mounteyn off Phocis dede see, 3336
Vnder the which stood a gret contre
3304. How] om. H.
3306. bigan R. 3308. practik] practiff R. 3309. began R.
3320. answere R. 3325. that] om. R. 3326. Onto] In to R.
3328. Eek] Also R. 3333. nor] ner R.
3335. he gan anon] gan H, R 3, he began anoon J, he biganne
anon H 5, he gan anone P, began anone R.
[p. 42]
3320
3324
was told that
he would hear
of his kindred
if he went to
Ml Phocis,
92 (Edipus kills his Father ^ Laius [bk. i
Callid Citoiens, which that tyme in certeyn
Werreied hem that were on the mouwteyn.
and there by His fadcF Layus, throuh his cheualrie, 3340
his^father/ With Citoicns IS cntFid in bataile;
Laius. ^^^ Edippus cam with the partie
OfF the hiUis, armed in plate & maile.
And as thei gan ech other to assaile, 3344
Among the pres at ther encount[e]ryng,
OfF auenture Edippus slouh the kyng.
without knowing Onknowe to hym that he his fader was,
Hauyng therofFno suspeciouw; 3348
Passid his way, platli this the cas.
And eek onknowe he cam onto the toun
OfF myhti Thebes, where for his hih renoun
He was receyued with ful gret reuerence, 3352
Because that he slouh in ther difFence
At Thebes he Spynx the setpent, horrible for to see,
was received iirv m j j l ■ • ^ •
with great Wiiilom ordcyncd bi mcantaciouns
heTw^th?"'* For to destroie the toun and the contre 3356
pentThat Trol ^^ ^^^ compassid sleihti questiouns.
pounded a rid- Slouh man and child in all the regiouns,
die to be solved r^ ■, i i i • ■ i
on pain of buch as nat koude bi wisdam or resoun
Make ofF his problem pleyn exposiciouw. 3360
Who passid bi, he koude hym nat excuse,
But the serpent hym felly wolde assaile.
With a problem make hym for to muse,
Callid ofF suwme an vnkouth dyuynaile, 3364
Which for texpowne, who that dede faile,
Ther was noon helpe nor other remedie,
Bi the statut but that he muste deie.
Since all people And for allc folk ha[ue] nat knowlechyng 3368
this^riddie?! OfF this dcmauwde what it was in deede,
will tell It to J ^jji reherse it heer in my writyng
Compendiousli, that men may it reede.
First this serpent, who that list take heede, 3372
Was monstruous & spak a-geyn nature.
And yifF it fill that any creature,
3338. in] om. R. 3343. hil R. 3344. began R.
3347. Onknowe] Vnknowen R. 3349- this is R, J, H 5.
3350. eek] also R — onto] to R. 3356. destrie R.
3362. wolde hym felly R. 3364. summe an] sum men R.
3366. nor] nethif R. 3373. ayenst R.
BK. i] The Riddle of the Sphinx 93
Man or woman sholde forbi pace,
Hih or low, off al that regioun, 3376
As I seide erst, ther was noon othir grace.
But ylff he made an exposlcioun
Off this serpentis froward questioun,
He muste deie and make no difFence. 3380
Which demaunde was this in sentence:
The serpent askid, what thyng may that be, u?"hat"2.nnot
Beeste or foul, whan it is foorth brouht, ^^^^ Trld^goej
That hath no power to stonde, go nor fle; 3384 fi"t on four.
Airr- i*rr"i IL *■ °° three,
And aiFtirward, yiiF it be weel souht, and finally on
Goth first on foure, & ellis goth he nouht: wards on three
Afftir bi processe, on thre, & thanne on tweyne; """^ ^°"'' ***'°^
And efFt ageyn, as nature doth ordeyne, 3388
He goth on thre and efft on foure ageyn,
Off kjmdly riht nature disposith it so.
And in a while it folwith in certeyn,
To the mateer which that he cam fro, 3392
He muste oflF keende resorte ageyn therto.
And who cannat the menyng cleerli see,
He off this serpent shal deuoured be.
Which Edippus, ful so[b]re in his entent, 3396 ^swe^'r'ed
Nat to rakell nor hasti ofF language, "^''i? 8^' '^''-
T> • 1 • 1 • I o o ' cretion.
But m his herte with gret auisement.
And ful demur off look & [of] visage,
Considred* ferst this p^reilous fell passage, 3400
Sauh weel tofom* that it was no iape.
And ful prouyded that no woord escape.
At good leiser with hool mynde & memory, [p. 43]
Seyng the ernest ofF this mortal emprise, 3404 i7^"^id^'
His lifF dependyng a-twen deth and victory,
" This beeste," quod he, " pleynli to deuise.
Is first a child, which may nat suffise.
Whan it is born, the trouthe is alday seene, 3408
Withouten helpe hymseluen to susteene.
3375. forbi] furth bi R.
3377. erst] arst R.
3386. &] or R — he] it R.
3389. efft] aftir R.
3390. OffjAlsoR — riht]rithR.
3397. nor] orto R.
3400. Considred] Considreth B, R 3.
3401. Sauh] Seeth R, si3e J — tofom] beforn B, R 3.
3405. bitwene R.
94
who grows to
be a man.
When age
comes he uses
a 8ta£F
and finally re-
turns with four
feet to the
earth from
which he
There is no
defence against
nature. Who
climbs highest
has the lowest
fall.
The Riddle of the Sphinx [|bk. i
Afftir on foure he naturali doth kreepe,
For inpotence and greene tendirnesse,
Norices can telle that* doon hem keepe. 3412
But afFtirward, vp he doth hym dresse
With his too feet; the thridde to expresse,
Is hand or bench or support off sum wall
To holde hym vp, list he cachche a fall. 3416
And afFtirward encresyng off his myht,
To gretter age whan he doth atteyne,
Off his nature thanwe he goth vpriht,
Mihtili vpon his leggis tweyne. 3420
Thanne kometh age his power to restreyne,
Crokid and lame, lik as men may see.
With staff or potent to make up leggis thre.
But whan feeblesse or siknesse doon assaile, 3424
On feet and handis he must bowe & loute;
For crossid potentis may nat thanwe auaile,
Whan lusti age is banshed & shet oute.
Thawne efFt ageyn, heerofF may be no doute, 3428
With foure feet terthe he doth retourne
Fro whens he cam, ther stille to soiourne."
Al cam from erthe, and [al] to erthe shall;
Ageyn nature is no protecciouw; 3432
Worldli estatis echon thei be mortall,
Ther may no tresor make redempciouw.
Who clymbeth hiest, his fal is lowest douw;
A mene estat is best, who koude it knowe, 3436
Tween hih presumyng & bowywg douw to lowe.
For who sit hiest, stant in iupartie,
Vndir daunger ofF Fortune lik to fall:
MyscheefF and pouert as for ther partie, 3440
Be lowest brouht among these peeplis all.
Summe folk han sugir, summe taste gall;
Salamon therfore, merour ofF sapience,
Tween gret richesse and atween indigence 3444
3412, that] which that B. 3418. gretter] gret R.
3420. Mihtili] Mihtly R. 3423. a staff R.
3424. feblenesse R. 3425. hondis & feet R.
3426. crossid] crossis R, J. 3429. foure] faire R.
3431. 2nd al] ow. H. 3432. is] may be R, J.
3435. lowest] ferthest H, farthest R 3, fardest P — his] is R.
3437. Tween] Betwene R. 3438. For] Or R.
3439. of Fortune is repeated in R. 3442. folkes R.
3443. therfore] ther of H. 3444- Tween] Bitwene R —
richesse] richessis R — atween] bitwene R.
BK. l]
The Misfortunes of CEdipus
95
Axed a mene callid suffisaunce,
To holde hym content off competent dispence,
Nat to reioishe off to gret habundaunce,
And ay in pouert to sende hym pacience,
Sobre with his plente, in scarsete noon offence
As off gruchchyng, but atwen ioie and smert
Thanke God off all, and euer be glad off hert.
Erthe is the eende off eueri maner man;
For the riche with gret possessioun
Deieth as soone, as I reherse can,
As doth the poore in tribulacioun:
For deth ne maketh no dyuisioun
Bi synguler fauour, but twen bothe iliche,
Off the porest and hym that is most riche.
This seid problem concludith in this cas,
Which the serpent gan sleihtili purpose,
That whan a child is first born, alias,
Kynde to his dethward anon doth hym dispose;
Ech day a iourne; ther is noon other glose;
Experience can teche in eueri age,
How this world heer is but a pilgrymage.
This said Edippus, first in Thebes born,
Sent to a forest deuoured for to be,
Founde & brouht foorth, as ye han herd toforn.
And afftir*, drawyng hom to his contre,
Slouh his fader, so infortunat was he
Off froward happis folwynge al his lyue.
As this tragedie his fortune shal descryue.
But for that he thoruh his hih prudence
Onto the serpent declared euerideel.
He slouh hym afftir be myhti violence,
Mor bi wisdam than armure maad off steel, —
Stace off Thebes can telle you ful weel, —
Therefore, as
Solomon said,
it is best to be
neither too
poor nor too
rich.
for the end of
all is earth,
and Death
shews favour
to no man.
3448
3452
3456
3460
3464
CEdipus was
unfortunate
3468 during all his
life.
The moment a
child is bom he
sets forth on a
pilgrimage to-
wards death.
3472
3476
After he slew
the Sphinx,
3446. dispence^ expence R.
341J.9. scarsetej scarsnesse R, J, scarcenes P, scarsenes H 5 —
in] om. H 5.
3450. but atwen] both betwene R.
3457. twen] betwene R. 3458. and] & off R.
3459. condudid R.
3460. began R — sleihtili] sleihty to R. 3463. glose] chose R.
3464. can] gan R. 3466. said] om. H.
3469. afftir] afftirward B, H, R 3.
3472. shal] doth H, can R 3. 3475. myhti] knyhtly R.
3476. than armure, etc.] than of armure & of Steele R.
96 CEdipus marries his Mother, Jocasta \byl. i
Which was o cause, yiff ye list to seen,
Wherthoruh Edippus weddid hath the queen
he took his Callid locasta, pryncesse off that cite, 3480
to°wjfe! ""^' His owne mooder, onknowe to hem bothe.
And thouh she were riht fair vpon to see,
With this manage the goddis were ful wrothe;
For ther alliaunce nature gan to lothe, 3484
That a mooder, as ye shal vndirstonde,
Sholde take hir sone to been hir husbonde.
encToflhe'sfars' There was theryn no convenyence, [p. 44]
t^e'cl'u^^or" To be supportid be kynde nor be resouw, 3488
this unnatural But yiff SO be the heueuH influence
marriage.
Disposid it be thyclynacioun
Off sum fals froward constellacioun,
. Causid bi Saturne, or Mars the froward sterre, 3492
Tengendre debat or sum mortal werre.
In this mateer, pleyn[H] thus I deeme
Off no cunnyng but off opynyoun:
Thouh he wer crownyd with sceptr<? & diademe 3496
To regne in Thebes the stronge myhti touw.
That sum aspect cam from heuene douw,
Infortunat, froward and ful off rage.
Which ageyn kynde deyned this mariage. 3500
Two sons were fJc crowuyd was basseut off al the touw,
born to them, _,, , ~.
Eteocies and T loutyug a seson bc souereynte ott pes;
two^ daughters, Aud whil he heeld[e] theer possessioun,
fsmlr' ""^ Sones & douhtres he hadde dout[e]les: 3504
The firste sone callid Ethiocles,
Pollynyces callid was the tothir,
As seith Bochas, the seconde brothir.
Also he hadde goodli douhtren tweyne, 3508
The eldest callid was Antigone,
And the seconde named was Ymeyne;
Bothe thei wern riht fair vpon to see:
The queen locasta myhte no gladdere be, 3512
3481. vnknawen R. 3483. this] his H.
3487. no] none R. 3488. nor] no R.
3489. so] it so R — the] that R. 3490. Dispose R.
3494. pleyn R. 3500. deyned] denyed H 5, disposid P.
3503. theer] the R.
3506. Pollicynes R, Polymyces H — was callid H.
3510. And] om. R.
35 1 1. Bothe] And both R — riht fair] om. R — vpon] on R.
BK. l]
Fortune eclipses all Glory
97
Than to remembre, whan thei wex in age.
How goddis hadde encreced her lynage.
It was hir ioie and hir fehcite
To seen hir childre, that were so inli faire: 3516
But ofFte in ioie ther cometh aduersite,
And hope onsured whanhope doth ofte appaire;
Contrarious trust will gladli ther repaire
Wher fals[e] wenyng in hertis is conceyued 3520
Thoruh ignorauTice, which fele folk* hath deceyued.
What thyng in erthe is more deceyuable.
Than whan a man supposith verraily
In prosperite for to stonde stable,
And from his ioie is remeued sodenly ?
For wher Fortune is founde to hasty
To trise folk, is greuous to endure,
For sodeyn chaungis been hatful to nature.
Vnwar wo that cometh on gladnesse,
Is onto hertis riht passyng encombrous;
And who hath felt his part off welfulnesse,
Sorwe suynge oon is to hym odious.
And werst off all and most contrarious.
Is whan estatis, hiest off renoun,
Been from ther noblesse sodenli put doun.
There is no glory which that shyneth heer,
That fals Fortune can so magnefie;
But whan his laude brihtest is and cleer.
She can eclipse it with sum cloudy skie
OflF vnwar sorwe, onli ofF envie.
Seeth off Edippus an open euydence.
Which bi his lyue hadde experience
OflF hih noblesse, and therwith also
Part inportable off gret aduersite.
Is ioie ay meynt with ful mortal wo:
For whil he regned in Thebes his cite.
Jocasta
rejoiced
in her
children:
but what
thing it more
deceitful
than
3524 Fortune?
3528
The greatest
sorrow is
that which
comes
unawares
after joy.
3S32
3536
There is
no glory-
that Fortune
cannot eclipse.
3540
3544
3514. How] Heer R.
3516. children R.
3518. whanhope, separaud into Uvo words in J, R 3, P; whan in
whanhope is corrected to wan, R, whanne H 5 — doth] om. J.
3519. will] wol H. 3520. hert R. 3521. folk fele B.
3527. trise] tryuse H. 353 1. wilfulnesse R.
3535. put] brouht R. 3542. Which] Whilk H.
3S4S- ay] tuer R. 3546. his] the R.
98
The Prophecy of Tiresias
[bk. I
which brought
the people in
despair.
The land was And locEsta, With ful grct royalte,
penHence^ ^ Withynnc the centre ther fill a pestilence, 3548
The peeple infectyng with his violence
Thoruh al the land and al the regioun
In eueri age; but most greuousli
On hem echon that were[n] off the touw 3552
Thenfeccioun spradde most speciali.
And ofF vengauwce the suerd most rigerousli
Day be day [be]gan to bite and kerue,
OfF ech estat causyng folk to sterue. 3556
Thus gan encrece the mortalite,
That eueri man stood in iupartie
OfF ther lyues thoruhout the contre,
So inportable was ther maladie. 3560
Men myhte heer the peeple clepe & crie,
Disespeired so were thei ofF ther lyues.
Void ofF al socour and ofF preseruatyues,
They asked the Thei souhte out hctbes & spices in ther cofFres, 3564
divinert Jhy" And gan to seeke for helpe and for socours,
pumsiTed^." '° The cause enqueryng ofF prudent philisophres
And ofF ther moste expert dyuynours, —
Whi that the goddis with so sharpe shours 3568
OfF pestilence, and in so cruel wise,
List hem, alias, so mortali chastise ?
But among alle, in soth this is* the cas, [p. 45]
Ther was founde oon ful prudent and riht wis, 3572
A prophete callid Tiresias,
OfF prophesie hauyng a souereyn pris.
Which that afFermed and seide in his auys, —
As onto hym was shewid be myracle, 3576
Phebus hymselfF declaryng the oracle, — •
None could
answer save
Tiresias,
Th'^a't the^peslu Causc off this sikncsse and these maladies,
lence would in- j^g i\^q goddis plcynli ban disposid,
crease until a ini -i* !• ^•
king, who slew And Scnck writ eek in his tragedies,
his father and rr^, . , , j • 1 • j
married his 1 houh the cause be secre and iclosid,
Xo"uW °be "e- Onto the tyme ther be a kyng deposid.
3580
3549. enfectynge R.
3555. began] gan H, R. 3557- bigan to encrese R.
3561. That men myhten R. 3562. Dispeired R.
3563. 2nd ofF 3 ofF ther R. 3565. bi gan R.
3571. in soth this is] sothli this B, H. 3572. riht] ow. R.
3578. these]of this R. 3580. eek] also R. 3581. secret R.
BK. i] The Sorrow of (Edipus and Jocasta 99
Which slouh his fader & reffte hym off his liff,
And hath eek take his mooder to his wifF, 3584
Til this be doon and execut in deede,
Ther may be maad[e] no redempcioun;
But pestilence shal multeplie & spreede
Ay mor and mor thoruhout that regioun, 3588
Til onto tyme that he be put doun
From his crowne, — which nat longe a-goon
His fader slouh among his mortal foon,
And hath his mooder weddid eek also, 3592
A-geyn[e]s lawe and a-geyn al riht.
Til that vengaunce vpon this crym be do,
Ther shal be werre, pestilence and fiht,
Sorwe and* gret strilF, and euery maner wiht 3596
Off vengaunce his neyh[e]bour shal hate;
Brother with brother, & blood with blood debate.
This al and sum; ther may be no socour. S'n"^^'*
Which brouht the peeple in ful gret heuynesse, 3600 beiieye thit
r-> '-r>- '11 Tiresias
For Tiresia the grete dyuynour, meant
Bi prophecie tolde hem thus expresse. ''""' °^'
And atte laste, bi toknys and witnesse,
Men vndirstood be signes out shewyng, 3604
This pestilence was brouht in bi the kyng.
And thouh the peeple [ne] gafF no credence
To Tiresia, nor to his prophesie.
The queen locasta cauhte an euidence, 3608 {^j^^^
And in hir herte a ful gret fantasie, tfaetmth.
Speciali whan she dede espie
Off kyng Edippus the feet whan she sauh woundid.
How this rumour was vpon trouthe [I]groundid: 3612
Because also there was a dyuynour
Which tolde alForn Edippus sholde be
To Layus in Thebes successour.
Wherbi the kyng, the queen, and the cite 3616 s^j^.^-i
Fill in gret trouble and gret aduersite, — were greatly
Weel more than I be writyng can reporte,
For ther was nothyng that myhte hem reconforte.
3588. Ay] Euer R, J. 3589. onto] vnto the R.
3592. eek] om. R, J. 3594- this] that R.
3596. 1st and is crossed out B. 3600. ful] om. R.
3604. be] and R. 3606. ne] om. H, P, R 3. 3607. nor] no R.
361 1, sauh] se R, sey H. 3612. groundid H, R.
3614. afFom] to fom R. 3615. Thebes] thes R.
3617. and] and in R. 3619. reconforte] comfort H.
lOO
(Edipus in Despair
[bk. I
The king
cast away
his crown
and tore out his
eyes and cried
day and night
for death.
What grieved
him most was
that his sons
hated him,
so he prayed
the gods that
Polynices and
Eteocles might
bring one an-
other to de-
Ful ofte a-day locasta gan to swowne, 3620
Kyng Edippus sobbe, crie and weepe,
In salt[e] teris as they wolde hem drowne,
Deth craumpisshyng into ther brest gan creepe,
A-day compleynyng, a-nyht they may nat sleepe, 3624
Cursyng the hour off ther natyuyte,
That thei sholde a-bide for to see
Ther mortal chauws, ther dedli auenture,
Ther fortune also*, which gan on hem frowne, 3628
Inpacient and doolful to endure,
Ther froward fate with hir lookis browne.
The kyng for ire cast a-wey his crowne,
And gan tarace, for constreynt off his peyne, 3632
Out off his hed his woful eyen tweyne.
Day and nyht he cried afftir deth.
Hatful to come* in any manys siht.
Most desirous to yelden vp the breth, 3636
Woful in herte to come in any liht,
Croked for sorwe, feeble to stonde vpriht;
And speciali in his dedli distresse,
For dreed & shame he dared in derknesse. 3640
The cruel constreynt off his most greuauwce
Was that his sonys hadde hym in despiht,
Which gan his sorwe gretli to auaunce,
For hym to scorne was set al ther deliht; 3644
Was neuer [man] that stood in a wers pliht.
For thus liggyng and destitut off cheer,
Onto the goddis he made this praier,
Besechyng hem with a ful doolful herte 3648
Vpon his wo to haue* compassioun.
And that thei wolde, for tauenge his smerte,
Atween his sonys make a dyuysioun,
Ech to brynge other to destruccioun: 3652
This was his praier pleynli in substauwce,
That ech on other take may vengaunce
3620. a-day3 in the day R. 3623. brestl hert R.
3624. nat] noth R. 3625. Cursyng] Outraynge R.
3628. also] eek B, H — gan] did R. 3630. lookis] lokkis R.
3632. be gan R. 3635. come] comen B, J, comon R.
3638. Croked] Corbide R. 3640. &] of H.
3642. hadden hem R.
3645. man is written between the columns in a later hand R.
3646. thus] om. H, P.
3649. to haue] ha sum B, haue sum J, haue some P.
3653. pleynli] om. R. 3654. may take R.
BK. l]
The Enmity of Polynices and Euocles
lOI
^6^6 His prayer wi J
answered.
3660
The brother*
became mortal
foes.
In yeeris fewe for ther onkynd[e]nesse. [p. 46]
Thei herd his praier, as ye han herd deuyse;
The brethre too, thoruh ther cursidnesse,
Euerich gan other mortali despise,
For lak off grace and for fals couetise,
Ech for his parti desirous in deede
Tofom other to regne and [to] succeede.
And thus this brethre* most infortunat,
A-tween hemsilfF fill at discencioun;
And fynali this vnkynde[ly] debat 3664
Brouht al Thebes onto destruccioun:
Yit was ther first maad a convencioun,
Bi entirchaungyng* that ech sholde regne a yeer,
The tother absent, go pleie & come no neer. 3668 —
This was concludid bi ther bothe assent
And bi accord off al the regioun.
Polynyces rod foorth and was absent,
Ethyocles took first possessioun.
But whan the yeer bi reuolucioun
Was come a-boute, he, fals off his entent,
Onto thaccord denved to consent.
3672
This was o cause off ther bothe stryues,
Polynyces thus put out off his riht.
Til Adrastus, that kyng was* off Argyues,
Which thoruh al Grece grettest was oflF myht,
Sente onto Thebes Tideus a knyht.
His sone-in-lawe, to trete off this mateere.
And the cause fynali to lere,
Whethir the kyng callid Ethiocles
Wolde condescende off trouthe and off resoun
To stynte werre and to cherisshe pes,
Affter thaccord and composicioun,
Vp to delyuere Thebes the myhti toun
3676
3680
Adrastus, king
of Argos, sect
Tydeus to
Thebes to help
Polynices,
3684
but without
avail.
3657. brethem R.
3662. brethre] breed B, brethem R, H 5, Brethir H.
3663. Betwene R. 3664. thus vnkinde P.
3666. made first R.
3667. Bentirchaungyng B — a yeer] eir R.
3668. go] to R, J. P, H 5.
3670. the] that R. 3673. But] & H.
3675. consent] assent R. 3678. was kyng B.
3681. oflGforH.
3683. Whethir] Wher thoruh R — callid] om. R.
3687. Vp] for H, om. P — the] that P.
102 The Fall of Thebes [bk. i
Onto his brother, which absent was withoute, 3688
Now that his yeer was fully come a-boute.
But he was fals, & frowardli gan varie,
Ethiocles, from his conuenciouw.
Uga"n 'l''wa""on ^or which Adrastus no lenger wolde tarie, 3692
Eteocies in aid Whan Tideus hadde maad relacioun:
of rolynices, . '
who had be- gut callid auoou thfouhout his regioun
in-ia.v. '' AUe worthi, bothe nyh and ferre,
A-geyn[es] Thebes for to gynne a werre. 3696
For this cause, lich as ye shal lere,
Polynyces, to forsen his partie,
I-weddid hadde the kyngis doubter deere,
I meene Adrastus, flour of cheualrie, 3700
Whan Tideus dede hym certefie
Touchyng the answere off Ethiocles,
And off his trouthe how he was rech[e]les,
Fals off his promys & cursidli forsworn; 3704
th°e''v,"oie''8t'!)ry ^^^ ^o his trouthe noon aduertence had he,
Thebet^'*^^ "^ ^^^ *° thaccord that was maad beforn
Touchyng delyuerauwce off Thebes the cite.
But who that list this story cleerli see 3708
Off these too brethre & ther discenciouw,
And how Adrastus lay tofor the touw,
And Tideus, thoruh his hih prowesse,
Fauht hi the way[e] goyng on message, 3712
And how off" Grece al the worthynesse
With kyng Adrastus wente in this viage,
And off^ the myschefi^ that fill in ther passage
For lak of water, til that Ysiphile, 3716
Norice of Ligurgus, so fair vpon to see,
Tauhte Tideus to fynde out a ryueer,
(She that dede in fairnesse so excell,)
Nor how the serpent, most ougli off^ his cheer, 3720
Off" kyng Ligurgus the child slow at a well.
Nor how Amphiorax fill a-doun to hell, —
3695. AUe] All the R. 3696. begynne R.
3698. Pollycynes R. 3706. beforn] to forne H.
3707. the delyu^raunce R. 3709. brethern R.
3714. this] his R.
3720. Nor] Ney^T R. 3721. a] the R.
3722. Nor] Neithir R.
BK. l]
The End of Polynices and Eteocles
Al to declare, me semeth it is no neede,
[For] in the siege of Thebes ye may it reede,
The stori hool, and maad ther mencioun
Off other parti, ther puissaunce & ther myht,
And how Adrastus lay tofom the toun.
And how thei metten eueri day in fiht.
And Tideus, the noble famous knyht
So renommed in actis marciall.
Was slayn, alias, as he fauht on the wall.
And how the brethre mette a-mong the pres,
Lich too tigres or leouns that were wood.
With sharp[e] speris; this is dout[e]les,
Euerich off hem shadde other[s] herte* blood:
This was ther fyn, & thus with hem it stood,
Sauf at ther festis callid funerall,
Ther fill a merueile which reherse I shall.
3724
372S
732
3736
[p. 47]
3740
W^han thei were brent into asshes dede,
OflF ther envie there fill a [ful] gret wonder
A-mong the brondes and the coles rede,
Hih in the hair the smokes wente assonder.
The ton [to] 00 parti and the tother yonder,
To declare, the story list nat feyne, 3744
The grete hatrede that was atwen hem tweyne.
Thus for ther ire and fals discencioun,
Alle the lordis and al the cheualrie
Were slayn off Grece and also off the toun. 3748
And roote off all, myn auctour list nat lie,
Was fals alliaunce and fraternal envie;
And cheefF ground, with al the surplusage,
Who serche a-riht, was onkyndli mariage. 3752
The queen locasta felte hir part off peyne
To seen hir childre ech off hem slen other,
Hir sone hir lord, blynd on his eyen tweyne.
Which to his sonys was fader & eek brother: 3756
Fortune wolde it sholde be noon other,
3723. semeth it is3 sempte it was R.
3714- For] om. H, R 3 — the] thes R — it] om. R.
3726. other] eithir R — pouyschaunce R.
3732. brethem mettjTi R. 3735- herte] hertis B.
3740. ful] om. H. 3743. to] om. H, on R 3.
3745. betwene R. 3746. ther] om. R — fals] for fals H.
3752. serche] seche H — serche a-riht] sekith right R 3.
3753. part] peyne R. 3754. children R.
3756. eek] also R.
103
So there is no
need of my
telling it here.
Tydeus was
slain.
the two
brothers killed
one another.
and on their
funeral pyre
the smokes
parted in
twain.
The root of all
this trouble was
unnatural mar-
riage.
Jocasta,
weighed down
with grief.
I04
The Death of Jocasta
[bk. I
dew herself
with CEdipus'
eword.
Eek Parkas sustre, which been in noumbre thre,
Span so the threed at ther natyuyte.
Eek whan locasta stood thus disconsolat, 3760
And sauh off Thebes the subuersioun,
The centre stroied, wast and desolat,
The gentil blood shad off that regiouw,
Withoute confort or consolaciouw, 3764
Thouhte she myhte be no mor appeired;
But off al hope fuUi disespeired,
Trist and heuy, pensifF & spak no woord,
Hir sorwes olde & newe she gan aduerte, 3768
Took the swerd off hym that was hir lord,
With which Edippus smot Layus to the herte,
She to fynisshe all hir peynes smerte,
And fro the bodi hir soule to deuyde, 3772
RofF hir-selfF[e] thoruhout eueri side.
She weri was off hir woful lifF,
Seyng off Fortune the gret[e] frowardnesse,
How hir diffame & sclandre was so riff, 3776
And off Edippus the gret[e] wrechidnesse,
Eek off hir sones the gret onkynd[e]nesse:
Alle these thyngis weied on hir so sore.
For distresse that she list lyue no more. 3780
Bochas writith, the flour off hir fairnesse,
Constreynt off sorwe causid it to fade;
The famous liht also* off hir noblesse
And al the cleernesse off hir daies glade 3784
With vnwar harmys was so ouerlade,
Off verrai angwissh, that she hirselff dede hate,
So inli contrari [disposid] was hir fate.
Death takes no Thus deth devouteth with his bittir gall 3788
heed of high T • J J • J fr 1
or low estate, loie and sorwc, deuoid oit ai mercy;
And with his darte he maketh doun to fall
Sorrow caused
her beauty to
fade.
3758. Eek] Also R — sustren H.
3759. the] ther H. 3760. Eek] Also R.
3761. sauh] sihe R. 3762. stroied] distrled R.
3764. comfort H.
3768. Hir] His R — newe] ner R. 3773- eueri] eithir R.
3778. Eek] Also R. 3783. also] eek B, eke R 3, P, H.
3784. hir] his R. 3785. sche was R.
3787. disposid] om. H — hir] to hir H. 3788. his] hir H.
3789. deuoid] auoyde R. 3790. his] hir H — he] she H.
BK. l]
(Edipus finally exiled by Creon
los
Riche and poore, hem markyng sodenly:
His vnwar strook smyt[eth] indifferently.
From hym refusyng fauour & al meede,
Off all estatis he takith so litil heede.
3792
Bet is to deie than lyue in wrechidnesse,
Bet is to deie than euer endure peyne,
Bet is an eende than dedli heuynesse,
Bet is to deie than euer in wo compleyne;
And where-as myscheeff doth at folk disdeyne
Bi woful constreynt off long contynuaunce, 3800
Bet is to deie than lyue in such greuaunce.
Taketh exauwple heeroff and a preeff
Off kyng Edippus, that was so longe a-go,
Off queen locasta, that felte so gret myscheeff, 3804
And off ther childre remembrith eek also.
Which euer lyued in envie, sorwe* & wo:
Fortune, alias, duryng al ther daies
Was founde so froward to hem at all assaies. 3808
Touchyng Edippus processe fynde I noon
What eende he made in conclusioun,
Sauf Bochas writith, how the kyng Creon,
Cosyn and heir bi successioun, 3812
Exilid hym cheyned ferr out off the toun,
Where he endured in myscheeff, sorwe & dreed.
Till Antropos ontwynid his lyuis threed.
But it is better
to die than live
3796 in misery.
Creon exiled
CEdipus, and I
cannot say how
he died.
CI Lenvoye.
IN this tragedie foure thinges ye may see.
The pride off labyn & fals pr<»su?npcioun.
Off queen locasta the gret aduersite.
Off kyng Edippus thynclynacioun
To vices all, and the deuysioun
Off the too brethre, pleynli vs tassure,
K)mgdamys deuyded may no while endure.
38
1 5 Kingdoms dis-
tracted by in-
ternal strife
cannot endure.
3820
3791. markyng] makynge R. 3792. His] hir H — smyteth]
smyt MSS. exupt P, H 5. 3793. hym] hir H. 3794. he]
she H,
3795-8, 3801, R, P, H 5 wrtU Bettir or Better insUad of Bet.
3796. endure] tendur^ H, to liff (Hue) in R, P, H 5, lyue in J,
to suffre R 3. 3799. at] al R.
3805. remembrith eek] remembre R.
3806. lyued in envie sorwe] lyueden in sorwe envie B, H —
lyuede eu^r R 3.
3813. hym] om. H 3814. in] om. R. 3816. foure] thre R.
lo6 Atreus and his Brother Thyestes [|bk. I
lOmneRegnum Yov who sauh cucF kvnedam or centre fp. 4.8I
desoiabiturji btondc in quycct off thcr possessioun, 3824
But yifF ther wer pes, riht and equyte
be^"ea^"and ^^'^ ^"st accord, withoute discenclouw,
justice. Void oflF ontrouthe and fals collusioun,
Pleynli declaryng bexaumple & bi scripture, 3828
Kyngdamys deuyded may no while endure.
by 'thfeMmpie Seeth hecr exaumple off Thebes the cite,
of Thebes. ^j^^ }^ow that noble myhti regiouw,
Thoruh ther* froward [fals] duplicite 3832
With werre brouht to ther destrucciouw;
Ther promys brokyn, and ther couert tresoun,
Shewed bi the[r] harmys, impossible to recure,
Kyngdamys deuyded may no while endure. 3836
Princes and Pryncis, Pryncessis, which ban the souereywte
cherish yo'ur Oucr thc peeple and domynaciouw,
subjects if you -trTr ^• i i • r ^• •
would reign Yirt ye list iyue longe m lelicite,
°"*' Cherisshith your subiectis, doth noon extorsiouw, 3840
And aduertisith off wisdam and resoun,
As this tragedie doth to you discure,
Kyngdamys deuyded may no while endure.
[How Atreus Kyng of Messene wrou3t ayenst his
brothir Thiestes / slouh his iij. childre dis-
membrid hem in pecys made Thiestes to ete of
ther fiessh and drynke of ther blood.]] ^
Bochas was T) OCHAS the poete, auctOMr off this book, 3844
preparing to ""^ "^ 7 o tt
B
write the story J-^ rlym purposyng to-gidre to compile
of Duke The- r~\ • 1 • 11
seus, Uyuers stories, anoon his pewne he took,
Hym remewbryng withynne a litil while,
In this chapitle gan direct* his stile 3848
To write the story, and be compendious,
Afforn all othre off Duk Theseus,
Lord off Athenys, a famous gret cite,
Ryht strong and myhti vpon eueri side, — 3852
But at his bak Bochas dede oon see,
3825. pes riht] rith pees R. 3828. bi ensaumple R.
3830. ensaumple R. 3832. ther] ther most B, H — fals^om. H.
3833. brouht] weren brouht R. 3835. ther] the H.
3837. han] had R.
3839. long Iyue J — felicite] prospmte H. 3842. As] al H.
3848. gan] bigan R — directen B. 3851. Athenys] Asye H.
^ MS. J. leaf 20 verso.
BK. Q
Atreus and Thyestes
Which cried loude & bad he sholde a-bide:
" Bochas," quod he, " fro the me list nat hide
My woful cas, nor in no wise spare
My pitous compleynt to the to declare!
I am Thiestes, be-spreynt al with wepyng,
Drownyd in tens, as thou maist weel see,
Whilom sone off the myhti kyng
Philistynes, and bom also parde
Off queen Pellopia, excellyng off beute;
And for thou art desirous for tendite
Off peeple onhappi, & ther wo to write,
My will is this, that thou anon proceede
To tume thi stile, and tak thi penne blyue,
Leue* Theseus, tak now off hym non heede,
But my tragedie first that thou descr>'ue.
For I suppose that in al thi lyue.
That thou sauh neuer a thyng mor dolerous,
Mor onhappi, mor froward nor pitous
Than is, alias, my mortal auenture.
Incomparable, the sorwe surmountyng
Off queen locasta, most woful creature.
Or off Edippus, his fate ay compleynyng:
For my compleynt haueth non endyng,
But lastith euere, & bereth me witnesse.
No wo rassemblith onto myn heuynesse."
And with that woord John Bochoj stille stood,
Ful sobirly to yiue hym audience;
And in the place demeurli he a-bod
To heere the substaunce off his mortal offence.
Which thus began to shewen his sentence,
" O lohn," quod he, " I pray the take good heed
My wo to write that men may it reed.
Alias! my brother, roote off onkynd[e]nesse,
Attreus callid, off tresoun sours & well,
And fyndere out off tresoun & falsnesse,
3856
107
when tuddecly
Thyestes, soa
of Pelops, ap-
peared before
him and said,
3860
3864
3868
"Leave
Theseus and tell
my tragedy
first. Never
was there one
more terrible."
3872
3876
So Bochas
paused to
3880 listen.
3884
"John," said
Thyestes, "my
brother Atreus
was a great
3888 scoundrel.
3860. Whilom]) Sumtyme R — sone] ^ sone H.
3863. for] om. R.
3865. that thou anon] anone at thou do R.
3867. Leue] Leff B — now] om. R.
3868. that] at R. 3870. sih R. 3871. nor] neithir R.
3875. ay] euer R. 3876. haueth] hath R, H.
3877. euere] om H.
3883. his] the R.
io8
but I trusted
him as a
brother should.
I knew no
wrong in him.
There it no
need of my
telling you
about the great
Atreus and Thyestes [bk.
And all other in fraude doth precell,
Whos couert hate is more than I can tell —
I supposyng, ofF verray innocence,
In hym no malice, deceit, nor offence,
But as a brother sholde his brother triste,
I trusted hym off herte, will & thouht;
Bi apparence non othir cause I wiste.
For in his persone I supposid nouht
That euer he koude so fals a thywg ha wrouht.
But who may soner a-nother man deceyue,
Than he in whom no malice men conceyue ?
I dempte off hym as off my trewe brother,
Wenyng he hadde feithful been to me;
I sauh no signe, nor I kneuh non other,
In hym supposyng no duplicite.
But, o alias, how myhte it euer be.
Or who dede euer in any story fynde
Blood onto blood to be so onkynde!
I will passe ouer to telle the worthynesse,
Touchyng thestatis off our progenytours,
3892
3896
3900
3904
[p. 49]
3908
torth and ^nT Off our kynrccdc, and the gret noblesse.
bility of our
ancestors.
I telle no thyng, nor off our predecessours.
Nor off my youthe how passid been the flours —
I leue al this, and onto mynde call 39"
The wrechidnesse that I am in fall.
My brother My brothit fond a fals occasioun
falsely accused » r n i r
me of corrupt- A-geyn[eJs me, and gan a cause teyne
ing his wifes rj.^ ban[y]she me out off our regiouw.
virtue, exiled
me from our
country and
tried to kill
me
3916
And gan at me off hatrede so disdeyne,
Vpon me affermyng in certeyne.
In our kyngdam, which callid is Missene,
I sholde haue ley[e]n bi his wiff the queene. 3920
This he compassid ful falsli off malis,
Hymsilff weel knowyng that it was nat so,
Ay founde onkynde, and in his auys
3889. doth] he dothe H 5, P — precell] excelle R.
3892. nor] ne non R, nor noon H 5, J. 3893. his]a R.
3895. Bi] For bv H.
3902.] I see notnyng neithir I knowe non othir R.
3910. nor] nethir R, neither P, H 5. 3912. onto] to R.
3915. began R. 3917- hi gan R.
3920. I sholde] In shuld R. 3922. nat] no R.
3923. Ay] Eurre R.
BK. l]
Atreus and ThyesUs
109
3932
3936
3940
Nat lik my brother, but my dedli fo; 3924
And to encrece gret parcell off my wo,
Bi long processe in his entencioun
He ymagined my destruccioun.
And his cheefF cause was fals[e] couetise, 3928
Touchyng this thyng which he dede on me feyne;
And yit this kyngdam, treuli to deuise,
Shold haue be partid of riht atwen vs tweyne:
But a-geyn trouthe he dede so ordeyne
Me to exile* out off that regioun,
Hymsilff allone to haue possessioun.
Yit in his herte he caste a-nother wile
To myn ondoyng and desolacioun:
To the place where he me dede exile,
Vnder a shadwe off fals collusioun
To make a maner reuocacioun,
Off brethirheed shewyng a pretense,
Me to resorte a-geyn to his presence,
To be accepted, as a brother sholde,
With ful accord stille with hym tabide,
All iniuries, off which affom I tolde,
On outher part forgete & set a-side.
That nothyng afftir sholde our loue deuyde;
But of oon will and oon entencioun
Leede al our liff withoute dyuysioun.
Wheroff the peeple was ful glad and liht
Thoruhout Missene the myhti regioun.
At my resortyng fyndyng euery wiht
Redi off herte and hool affeccioun
Me to receyue into that noble toun;
And noon so redy, bi signes out shewyng,
To make me cheer, in soth, as was the kyng.
There is no damage in comparisoun.
That may be likned, bi no rassemblaunce.
To feyned trouthe and symulacioun.
because he
wanted the en-
tire kingdom
for himself.
Afterwards he
pretended re-
pentance,
3944
3948
and we made up
our differences.
which pleased
our subjects,
who received
me back gladljr.
3952
3956
There is noth-
ing worse than
fraud hid under
an honest face,
3924. but] bud lik R.
3928. This and the next txoo stanzas are transposed with the
following four in R.
393 1, departid R — of riht] trewly H.
3933- exile] besile B, R, J, besyle H 5 (exile H, P, R 3). .
3937. did me R. 3940. he shewyng H. 3944. tofomr H.
3945. partye R — forgot H. 3947. all off 00 will R.
3949. was] were R — J, P om. the four following stanzas.
3950. the] that R. 3953. receyue] resorte R.
no
Atreus and Thyestes
[bk. I
Thus I came
home. My
brother acted
as if he were
overwhelmed
with joy,
Whan fraude is hid with a fair contenauwce,
Pretendyng trouthe outward hi disseyuauwce, 3960
And vndirnethe, off most fals entent,
Off doubilnesse darith the serpent.
As vnder floures is shroudid the dragouw,
For to betraisshe bi sodeyn violence 3964
like a snake Such folk as haue no suspeciouw,
beneath flowers, y^ ,. . ■
rJut treuli meene in ther peur innocence,
Til thei be cauht dispurueied off difFence,
As is a fissh with bait off fals plesauwce, 3968
The hook nat seyn, to brynge hym to myschauwce.
Thus semblabli, at myn horn comyng
I was receyued with eueri circumstauwce,
Lich as halfF heir and brother to the kyng; 3972
And he, pretendyng, as bi contenauwce,
That he hadde so inli gret plesauwce
Off my repair, off* trouthe he tolde so.
For, reioisshyng, saide he wolde go 3976
Onto his goddis to doon sum obseruauwce
For this accord, and humble sacrefise,
Made his mynystris with feithful attendaunce
Tawaite on me in al ther beste wise; 3980
It nedith nat to tellyn nor deuise,
Nor in writyng in bookis for to sette
HalfF the ioie he made whan we mette.
First how freendli he dede me embrace 3984
Off hertli gladnesse withynwe his armis tweyne.
And how for ioie the teris on his face
Ful entierli gan doun distill & reyne,
That, for my part, I koude me nat restreyne, 3988
But that I muste off frenshipe fraternall
Weepe as dede he in his estat roiall.
Innocent lambs The wiH wolff that cast hym to deuoure [p. 50]
tricked. The celi lamb, which can no diffence, 3992
Nor non helpe hymseluen to socoure,
So feeble he is to make resistence,
Which demeth trouthe off fals apparence —
What wonder ist the fraude nat conceyued, 3996
Thouh such lambes onwarli be deceyued ?
3964. be trausse R. 3975- ofT] & off B, H.
3980. Tawaite] To wate R. 3981. nor] ne R.
3982. Nor] Neithir R — in] bi R.
3984. enbrace H. 3988. partie R.
3992. no] non R, noon J. 3993. Nor] Ne R — hym sIlfF R.
and we em-
braced one an'
other weeping.
BK.
1]
Atreus and Thyestes
III
Thouh that roses at mydsomer be ful soote,
Yit vndimethe is hid a ful sharp spyne;
Summe fressh[e] floures han a ful bittir roote, 4000
And lothsum gall can sugre eek vndermyne;
In dreedful stormys the sonne among doth shyne,
And vnder a shadwe off feyned freendliheed,
Ther is no frenship so pereilous for to dreed. 4004
Thus remembryng the feithful woordis stable
Off my brother shewed onto me,
At our meetyng the kyssyng amyable,
Thassurid couenantis off our fraternite — 4008
But ofFte tyme men may beholde and see
That lelies growe among these netlis thikke,
And flourdelis amyd these weedie wikke.
Thus whil I restid in the kyngis hous, 4012
Nothyng aduertyng his dedli cruelte,
His olde hatreed was so venymous
And so odible to destroie me,
HymsilfF tauenge he took my childre thre, 4016
And secreli — ^ is it nat a wonder? —
He kutte her throtes with a knyf assonder.
For he thouhte that it dede hym good
Hem to dismembre into pecis smale, 4020
And in a vessel for to gadre ther blood,
Whil thei lay still & loked on hym* ful pale.
This was his deede in a desert vale,
Withynne a kaue, that no man sholde espie 4024
Tresoun conspired off his fals tirawnye.
This was the substaunce off his sacrefise,
To sle my childre & do ther throtis bleede!
I trowe the goddis therofF dede agrise, 4028
Off his fals off ryng whan thei token heede.
He dede ther membris afftir roste & seede,
And with this viauwde most abhomynable
He made me be serued at the table. 4032
Midsummer
roses are
fragrant, but
there are sharp
thorns beneath.
No friendship
is more danger-
ous than one
that is feigned.
\\hile I dwelt
in my brother's
house, suspect-
ing nothing, he
cut the throats
of my three
children,
dismembered
them,
and had them
roasted and
served up to
me at table.
3998. Thofe \)t Roos R 3 — that] the P.
4001. sugre eek] al so suger R, J.
401 1, amyd] In myddis R, J, H 5, among H, amonge R 3
weedis] wides J.
4017. secreli] sikyrly R — it is not R.
4022. &] om. H — hym] hem B — ful] om. R, J, P, H 5.
4027. do ther throtis] make ther hertis R, J, H 5,
4032. me be serued] be s/rruyd me H.
112
Atreus and Thyestes
[bk. I
I am sure the
gods were dis-
pleased. Even
the sun was
8o horrified
that he
shrouded
his light.
In couert cruses, also thus it stood,
To staunche my thrust, thoruh his cruel vengaunce
He made me vnknowe to drynke ther blood.
Was nat this thyng to goddis displesaunce ? 4036
Yis, I dar sey[e]n; for hi demonstrauwce,
Vpon this deede, withoute mor obstacle,
The Sonne in heuene shewed a myracle.
Which sore agrisid* myht[e] nat beholde
With his bemys theron to caste his siht,
For displesaunce his clernesse gan withholde,
And for vengaunce to withdrawe his liht.
The day turnyng for horrour onto nyht.
Whan he shon brihtest in his mydday speer,
Shrowded his face and wolde nat appeen
4040
4044
Unwittingly I But I, allas, vpon this cas horrible,
ate my children ' ' x
and drank
their blood,
which grieves
me so that I
can hardly
speak of it.
4048
Bochas, did
you ever hear
of a more un-
happy man?
That koude nat ymagyne nouther thynke
On ony mater that was so odible,
Eet off ther flessh & off ther blood dede drynke.
Which so sore doth in myn herte synke.
That I may nat, touchyng this auenture, 4052
The circuwstaunces for constreynt to discure.
It nedith me nat to make rehersaile
Touchyng myn exil, off alle maner thynges,
Off dyuers sorwes that me dede assaile, 4056
My woful sihhes, nor my greuous wepynges,
Nor vpon nyhtes my dolorous wakynges,
My pouert[e], nor how I stood in dreed
To lese my liff; wheroff, Bochas, tak heed, 4060
And remembre alle [the] circuwstaunces:
Yiff euer thou sauh, off hih or low degre,
Mor contrari or mor onhappi chaunces,
Than thou herd remembrid heer off me. 4064
Weie in ballauwce my sorwes, and lat see
Yiff any sorwe or myscheuys onrecurid
May countirpeise to that I haue endurid!
4035. to] om. R.
4037. demonstracion R.
4040. sore agrisid] for agrisid B, H, R 3 — myhtnat B.
4042. bi gan R. 4048. nethir R.
4050. &] om. R — dede] also did I R. 4051. in] too R.
4053. circumstaunce R — to] om. R. 4057. nor] ne R.
4058, 9. Nor] Neithir R.
4061. the] om. H, R 3 — circumstaunce H 5, syrcumstaunce P.
4063. chaunce P, H 5. 4066. mischeefFR.
BK. l]
Atreus accuses Thyestes
113
M)m infortunyes, I fond hem ay so fell, 4068
Withoute fauour & socour dispurueied,
My brother euer on me so cruell,
That I ful ofFte desired to haue deied;
For to this day my sperit hath be conveied 4072
With sorwe and wo, deuoid off al refuge,
Wherfore I pray, O Bochas be my iuge,
And in thi writyng lefF me nat behynde, [p. 51]
Nor in thi book[e] that thou nat disdeyne 4076
Among tho folk that thou ha[ue] me in mynde,
Which that for sorwe weepe, waile & pleyne,"
And thus Thiestes, rehersyng al his peyne,
Lich as he wolde hymsilfF on pecis reende, 4080
Maad onto Bochas off his tale an eende.
You mu« not
leave me out
of your book
of tragedies!"
[How Atreus accusid himsilf of mordre and his
brothir vpon auoutry don wit/i Europa the
quene.] ^
ATREUS afFtir, with a ful pale cheer,
And off envie ful ded in his visage,
Onto lohn Bochas gan* approche neer, 4084
Lich as he hadde be fallen in a rage,
And furiousli abraid in his langage,
" How may this be, that lik a man wer wood,
Thiestes hath his venym sowe a-brod, 4088
And lik a rebaude falsli me accusid,
Nat-withstandyng that I ful cleerli see
Myn infortunyes, which may nat be refusid.
So sore, alias, thei werke ageyn[e]s me! 4092
And thouh Thiestes fals & ontrewe be.
And to the, Bochas, with a face pale
Ageyn[e]s me hath forged heer a tale
Which in effect shal be founde ontrewe, 4096
Yiff I ha[ue] space my compleynt to declare.
For I purpose to telle a tale newe
Fro poynt to poynt, & for no man to spare,
4076. Nor] Neithir R.
4084. gan] he gan B, H, P, R 3, began J, byganne H 5 — he
began to proche R — approche] to approche H 5.
4087. wer] most R 3.
4091, which t)at R. 4094. to] vnto R.
^ MS. J. leaf 22 recto.
At this, Atreuj
appeared, pale
»-ith an^r,
and said:
"TTiyestes
lies like the
ribald and
madman be is.
and you, too.
Bochas, are
telling tales
about me.
114
Atreus accuses Thyestes
[bk.
Si* ThSsies ^^^ ^^ ^^^ roote & ground off al my care, 4100
was the cause And cucnc Hk as it is befall
of all my mis- -nil rr n
fortunes. Kehcrse the gynnyng orr my sorvves all.
Whilom whan I regned in Messene,
Off age lusti, flouryng in my fresshnesse, 4104
With my wyfF Europa, that was queene,
Most renommed that tyme off hir fairnesse,
Thiestes thanwe, ground off al falsnesse,
As a traitour his tyme dede espie, 4108
Thoruh his fals fraude & his flat[e]rie
Compassid a mene withynne my cite
Bi sleihti wilis that were incomparable,
To corrupte my wyuys chastite, 4112
Mi bed defoulyng, a thyng intollerable,
And to the goddis verray abhomynable —
Vsyng the queen to his flesshli plesauwce.
Til onto tyme that bi continuaunce 4116
She bi hym hadde sonys too or thre,
Echon brouht forth in fals auout[e]rye.
Deemyng euer that thei hadde be
Myn owne childre, til that I dede espie, 4120
How that this swyn thoruh his fals lecherie,*
This Thiestes, afFtir Europa,
Lay bi his doubter callid Pellopia.
And bi processe foorth a child she brouhte, 4124
Callid Egistus, which whan he cam to age,
As seith Bochas, ful gret tresoun he wrouhte;
For bi his malice and his gret outrage
Destroied was al hooli the lynage 4128
Off Tantalus, which bi his lyuyng
In Frigia regned as lord and kyng.
They cast But this Egistus, ofF whom I spak afForn,
Egisthus out ^ , -, , ° S .
to wild beasts, t alsii bcgote, myn auctour writ the same, 4132
scandair' OfF Pclopia, anou as he was born.
To hide the sclaundre & also the difFame
OfF Thiestes, and for to saue his name,
4102. begynnywg R.
4103. WhilomJ Summe tyme R — Misseene H.
4104. my] om. H. 4106. hirjom. R. 4107. as grounde R.
4108. dede espie] aspie R. 4115. to] om. R,
4119. euer] om. R, H. 4120. children R.
4121. lecherie] trecherie B. 4125. he] l>at he R.
413 1, to fom R. 4132. wryteth R.
He corrupted
Europa ray
wife by his
fraud and flat-
tery, an intoler-
able thing to
do, and an
abomination
to the gods,
and had two
or three sons
by her, which
I thought my
own. After-
wards this swine
had a son,
Egisthus, Ijy
his own
daughter.
BK. l]
Atreus accuses TbyesUs
Whan that he was but a day ofF age,
He was out cast to beestis ful sauage
To be deuoured, the story is weel kouth,
A mylch[e] goot God list for hym prouyde,
To fostren hym in his tendre youth,
He day & nyht hggyng bi hir side.
Withynne the forest thus he dede abide
Onto tyme that he gan growe in age;
Thanne to the court he holdeth his passage,
As onknowe to eueri maner wiht,
Wher he herde, abidyng in houshold,
OfF his kenreede, & how, ageyn al riht,
Thiestes was presumptuous and bold,
Bi his deceytis* compassid manyfold,
With Europa my wiff to haue a-do.
And on Pelopia begat a child also.
Which was hymsilff, as he dede vndirstonde
Bi euydencis many mo than on.
Wherfore off malice he took on honde,
On me, his vncle, tauengid been anon.
For Thiestes, cheuest off all my fon,
Myn owne brothir, made Egistus blyue
To make a suerd thoruhout myn herte ryue.
Thus bi this moordre, conspired bi tresoun.
On me Atreus, Hggyng pale and ded,
Cam Thiestes to haue* possessioun,
And sette a crowne oniustli on his hed.
He nouther hadde conscience nor dreed,
Routheles to see my woundis bleede,
With this that he myhte in my land succeede.
This same Egistus, ful falsli in his lifF,
As a yong braunche spronge out off tresoun.
Lay bi Clymestra, which that was the wifF
OfF the noble worthi kyng Agamenoun,
Liggyng a-siege tofFor Troie toun.
And this Egistus, which is a thyng nat fair,
Moordred hym also in Grece at his repair.
4136
4140
4144
4148
4152
4156
115
but he was
fostered bv a
goat and grew
up and came
to my court,
where he
Itamed who his
parer.ts were.
Incited by
Thyeite*, he
ran a sword
through Tcy
heart.
[P
.52]
4160
4164
I hus Thyestes
bccine kLig.
416S
Egisthuj after-
wards was the
paramour of
Cl)temiiestra.
and m-ifdered
Agamex.non.
4172
4139. mylke H, R 3 — prouvde] punieie R.
4141. He] by H — nyht & day R.
4145- This and the next three stanzas are om. in R, J.
4149. dece\tes] desertis B. 4156. cheuest]cheff H, chefe R 3.
4158. r>'ue] arrive H. 4161. han B.
ii6
Atreus and Thyestes
[bk. I
Jocasta, or
mine?
I admit I
roasted Thyes-
tes' children,
but he begot
themonEuropa,
my wife; and
although murder
and treason are
hateful, he
wronged me
first.
Wherfore, O Bochas, off herte I pray[e] the,
Which story. Which ofF these stories is now most terrible ? —
Bochas, IS most rr i
terrible, that of (JlT JLClippUS, lOCaSta, Ot Oft me?
QidipuS, of r^-. II -ff -I -11
1 elle on anon, yirr it be possible, 4176
Which off ther* sorwes is founde most penyble,
OfF Theban brethre, most ful off wo & teene,
Or off vs tweyne brethern off Missene ?
I am a-knowe, as for my partie, 4180
OfFvengaunce I dede a cruel deede:
I slouh his childre ofF malice & envie
And rosted hem, whan that thei wer dede»
Onli because, yifF thou list take heede, 4184
That he begat hem, as roote ofF al this strifF,
Vpon Europa, which that was my wifF.
Such hatful thyngis echman sholde lothe,
Which appertene to moordre and to tresoun: 4188
Thus may I seyn, we been vnhappi bothe,
He first bi trespas ofF fornycaciouw
Doon bi the queen withynwe my regioun,
And I, disclauwdrid, on the tothir side, 4192
OfF hasti vengaunce to been an homycide.
My bed he fouled bi his auoutrie,
To God & man a thyng most detestable;
And I ofF malice and fals malencolie 4196
Slouh his childr^? & serued hem atte table.
Thus entirchaungyng, yifF it be comendable,
Ech was desirous, thoruh our vnhappi chauwce,
Vpon other for to do vengaunce, 4200
Our gret hatreede, most odious founde att all,
Our cruel deedis wrouht on outher side,
Senech rehersith hem in especiall
In his tragedies; and ther he doth deuyde 4204
Our compleyntis, our malice & our pride.
Our fatal eende in sorwe & myscheefF fyned,
Whan Antropos our lyuys threed hath twyned."
It was tip for
tap,
and Seneca
tells all about
us in his
tragedies."
4174. now] om. R, J.
4177. ther] these B — founde] om. J, R, H 5 — sorwes] stones
4178. brethern R. 4179. Mycene P. 4180. for] om. R.
4182. &] & of R. 4184. bi cause repeated in R.
4188. 2nd to] om. R. 4190. He] The R.
4194. he fouled] defoulid R.
4206. fyned] feyned R.
BK. l]
An Envoy on Brotherly Strife
Whan lohn Bochas fulli hadde espied 420S
Off these too brethre thaccusaciouns,
And how thel hadde maliciousli replied
Ech ageyn other in ther discenciouns,
He gan duUe to heere ther mociouns, 4212
Put vp his penne, & wrot nat mor a woord
Off the[r] furie nor off ther fals discord.
pLenvoy.]
THIS tragedie sheweth a figure,
A maner ymage & also a liknesse, 4216
How contrari it is onto nature,
Blood onto blood to shewe onkynd[e]nesse.
This woful story can her [ful] weel witnesse.
All such debatis been, as ye shal fynde, 4220
Hatful to God and contrary onto kynde.
For there is non mor dreed ful auenture,
Than in kynredis to fynde frowardnesse,
Nor no damage mor pereilous to endure, 4224
Than in frenshepes whan there is straungenesse
A maner parti; bexaumple I dar expresse,
To seen the tre debate ageyn the rynde,
To God were hatful and contrary onto kynde. 4228
Eueri beeste and eueri creature
Loueth his semblable, off kyndli riht, I gesse;
And whan on trouthe* tweyne hertis assure,
Vndepartid, off verray parfitnesse, 4232
It were a vicious froward cursidnesse,
Ther loue so knet, to losne it or onbynde,
Hatful to God and contrari onto kynde.
Prynds, Pryncessis, doth your besi cure 4236
Fro you tauoide striff, fraude & doubilnesse,
Remembrith you vpon thunhappi eure
Off these too brethre & off ther wrechidnesse,
And off ther bothe malicious wilfulnesse, 4240
And how ther stryues — hath this weel in mynde —
To God was hatful and contrary onto kynde.
4208. had fully H. 4212. began R — ther] the R.
4213. nat] no R, H, R 3.
4214. nor] neithir R.
4219. ful weel] om. P. 4220. as] om. H.
4225. Frenshippe R. 4227. ayenst R.
4231. ontruthe B. 4234. losne it] louse R.
4238. Remembre R — eure] cure R, 4241- haveth R.
117
After hearing
the stories of
these two
brothers,
Bochas put
away
his pen and
refused to write
another word
about them.
This tragedy
shews how
hateful
brotherly
strife is to
God and
Nature.
Nothing is
more dreadful
than enmity
between
relations.
Every living
creature lo%e$
his fellow of
natural right.
It were a
vicious deed to
make them
quarrel.
Princes and
Princesses, try
to avoid
strife, fraud,
and deceit;
such things
are very
hateful
to God.
II!
The Story of Theseus
[bk. I
Athens wns
once called the
nurse of phi-
losophers and
sun of all
Its renown
shone in every
land,
[Off Duk Theseus and Adriane ^at saued his liflf
in the Caue/ and how he lik a forsworn man
forsook hir and weddid faire Phedra/ whiche
aftirward slouh hirsilf .] ^
ATHENES whilom, whaw it was in his
flour^s, . [P- 53]
Was callid norice of philisophres wise, 4244
Princesse off poetis & expert oratour^s,
Sonwe off all sciences, as clerkis can deuise,
Whens al cunwyng most cleerli dede arise.
Named off Grece the lanterne and the liht, 4248
Which thoruh al erthe shadde his beemys briht.
With noble titles, which been out off nou?nbre,
In eueri coost his renoun dede shyne,
The fame theroff was clipsed with non 0U77ibre, 4252
All other scooles it dede so enlumyne;
For in that cite, pleynli to termyne.
Off the seuene artis, as doun from on* hedspryng,
Ther ran out ryuers and stremys off al cunwyng. 4256
These sciences were callid liberall,
Onli off fredam, fraunchise and liberte;
For off a stok that were preued thrall,
Ther sholde no brauwche studie in that cite, 4260
But thilke blood that were fouwde fre,
Bothe be discent & lyneal hih noblesse,
Ther to scoleie sholde haue interesse.
This cite was sacrid to Mynerue, 4264
For ther wisdam and ther sapience;
Off Mercurie the feestis thei obserue,
For rethorik and for eloquence;
And myhti Mars gaff hem influence 4268
With glade aspectis, ther parti to a-mende.
Noblesse off knyhthod ther clergie to diffende.
and was famous This touw was nobleicd be title of other thynges,
for its dukes a i i • i i • i
and kings, And most glorious reknyd m that age 4272
The^usTs^lTof Be successiouw off dukes and off kynges,
^geus,
4246. Sunne^ Som^ H. 4248. Name R.
4253. scooles] om. R. 4254. determyne R.
4255. on] an B, H. 4256. stremys & Ryvers H.
4260. Ther] The R. 4266. thei] om. R.
4270. ther] the R. 4273- 2nd ofQom. R.
IMS. J. leaf 22 verso.
and only free
men of good
family could
study there.
The city was
sacred to
Minerva
BK. l]
The Story of Theseus
119
A-mong[es] which duk Theseus bi lynage,
Sone off Egistus, ful fressh off his corage,
Excellyng* alle of prudence & manheed^f 4276
That euer dede the crowne ther posseed^.
For to that cite, thoruh his hih noblesse,
In ther diffencis such trust, such [af]fiaunce
He gaff to hem bi his expert prowesse, 4280
Off his triumphes so gret habundaunce.
And speciaH ther renoun to auaunce.
He made hem fre ther truage for to lete
Ageyn Mynos the myhti kyng off Crete. 4284
For bi his force, the story is weel kouth,
Them to fraunchise and al that regioun.
The Mynotaur he slouh in tendre youth;
And afftirward he off deuocioun, 4288
Taquite hymsilff[e] lik a champioun,
Theroff made solempne sacrefise
To lubiter in most humble wise;
And in a theatre callid Maratoun, 4292
Duk Theseus hadde this victorie.
Afftir he wente to Colchos with lasoun,
Cheeff off counseil, as makid is memorie.
And bi processe to augmente his glorie, 4296
With Hercules his brother to conveie,
Geyn Amazones he wente to werreie, —
Conquered hem, his manhod was weel seene,
His force, his noblesse in that mortal stryff. 4300
And afftir that, Ypolita the queene
This Theseus took onto his wiff.
And for his brother he list iuparte his liff,
Duk Pirotheus, whan he dede vndirtake 4304
The centaures to outraie for his sake.
This centaures poetis specefie,
And Seruyus maketh mencioun,
How thei were whilom engendrid on a skie, 4308
Whan first ther fadir, callid Yrion,
Was enamourid, ful many day agon,
4275. ofT] in R. 4276. Excellyng] Excelsyng B.
4279. fiauwce] H, R 3. 4284. Ageynst R.
4292. theatre] tiatre R. 4293. this] the R.
4295. made R, H. 4296. bi] om. R. 4298. Ayens R.
4303. list iuparte] leyde in iupardie R.
4308. on]ofH, P, R3. 4310. many a R.
who slew the
Minotaur and
freed the
Athenians from
their tribute,
was the most
excellent.
Afterwards
Theseus went
to Colchos
with Jason and
to Femenye
with Hercules,
where he mar-
ried Hippolyte.
He also con-
quered the cen-
taurs, creatures
begotten on a
cloud by Ixion,
Juno's
secretary.
I20
Theseus and the Centaurs
[bk.
who fell in
love with his
mistress, and
she, disdaining
him, took the
likeness of a
cloud.
which in his
folly he be-
lieved to be
ber.
The centaurs
were half man,
half horse.
They tried to
carry away
Pirithous' wife
Hippodamia,
but Theseus
subdued them.
Vpon luno, because she was so fair,
Gouerneresse and goddesse off the hair. 4312
This Yrion was hir secretarie,
And for hir fairnesse & excellent beute,
Loued hir ful hote, al-be she was contrarie
To his desir, in Bochas ye may see. 4316
Hym to delude, he writith, how that she
Hirsilff transfourmyd, as she [that] myhte & koude,
Into the liknesse off an heuenli cloude,
This Yrion pleynli supposyng 4320
It was hirsilff, and euene thus he wrouhte.
The cloude enbracyng, withoute mor tarieng, —
Off his foli the goddesse there he souhte;
And with ther medlyng atwen hem foorth thei
brouhte 4324
The centauris, these beestis merueilous,
Which off nature be founde monstruous.*
Halff man, halff hors, [dejpartid thus on
tweyne, [p. 54]
And wonderful bi ther descripciouw, 4328
Off fals[e] malice dede hemselff ordeyne
On Pirotheus to make invasioun,
And hym to putte out off possessioun
Off his wiff, callid Ypodamen, 4332
And hir to rauysshe, maugre all his men.
Ther were off hem an hundred [as] in nouwbre,
Swifft as the wynd 4n ther cours renwyng.
Which off malice cast hem to encouwbre 4336
Duk Pirotheus the day off his weddyng,
And to rauysshe his wiff at ther comyng,
Yiff for his parti ther were no diffence
Ageyn ther power to make resistence. 4340
But Theseus list nat to delaie
Pirotheus his brother to diffende.
First the centaures he knyhtli dede outraie
So mortalli, thei durste hym nat offende; 4344
Afftir this conquest to helle thei descende,
4312. Gouirrnesse R, P, H J.
4315. al be it R. 4320-4515.] om. U, fol. missing.
4326. monstruous] contrarious B, R 3, P — ther nature R.
4327. on] in R, J. 432?. And] A R.
4330. invasioun] inuocacion R.
4343. knyhtly he did R, J. 4345. this] the R, Jje J.
BK. l]
Theseus and Piritbous
121
Duk Pirothe and worthi Theseus,
Maugre the daunger off cruel Cerberus.
There thei rauysshe in ther mortal teene,
Thoruh ther knyhthod, yifF ye Hst to lere,
Despiht off Pluto, Proserpyna the queene,
Which off lubiter was the douhter deere.
And Pirotheus fond first the manere
Off wilful force, thoruh his hih renoun,
Rewmys to conquere and holde possessioun.
But bi writyng sothli off Ouyde,
He pleynli tellith how duk Theseus
Arested was in hell, and muste abide,
Bi the force off cruel Cerberus;
And Pluto was to hym contrarious.
Til Pirotheus, to fynden a reles,
The cas declared onto Hercules.
Which off his knyhthod a remedi fond.
To helpe his freend [he] dede his besi peyne;
First bi his prowesse Cerberus he bond
At belle gatis with a treble cheyne,
And off his manhod he dede so ordeyne,
Duk Theseus from daunger to discharge,
Maugre Pluto for to gon at large.
Thei were in armys brethre bothe tweyne,
Louede as brethre bothe* in werre and pes.
That nouther koude onto other feyne,
Ther liff to iuparte & putte hemsilf;' in pres.
And bothe as brethre wer callid Hercules,
To signefie, poetis can weel tell.
This name in conquest all other doth excell.
Bi old[e] tyme thei that were pereles
For ther noblesse in dyuers regiouns.
All thei for manhod wer namyd Hercules,
Such as were noised for famous champiouns,
Tigres to daunte, boores and leouns.
And renommed among hem euerichon,
Bookis afferme, that Theseus was on.
4348
4352
4356
4360
Afterwards he
and Pirithous
descended into
hell, where
they made
off with
Proserpina.
But Ovid »ay»
that Theseus
was arrested in
hell and kept
there by Cer-
berus, and
subsequently
rescued by
Hercules,
AXfiA who bound
^^ ^ Cerberus with
a triple chain.
4368
4372
Theseus and
Pirithous were
brothers in
arms, and
called
Hercules,
Ax-j() a name given
to peerless
knights in old
times.
4380
4350. Preserpyna R.
4363. he] om. J.
4370. bothe] togidre B, R 3, P (both R, J, H 5).
4371. neithir R, J. 4372. lupardie R, J.
4382. Bookis] Bochas P, H 5 — afferme] affermeth R, J, P,
H5.
122 The Early Life of Theseus [bk. i
First, as I saide, bl his knyhtli trauaile,
brought Whan Athenes stood in dyuysioun 4384
peace to A-mong hcmsilfF bi werre and bi bataile,
stored exiles, Bi* his wisdam and his* discreciouw,
He sette accord withynne that noble touw:
Them that were exilid & stood in nouwcerteyn, 4388
He off his knyhthod made hem resorte ageyn;
made laws and He gafF hcm lawes wherbi thei sholde hem gie,
governed *j *
wisely, Noble statutis foundid on resouw,
Sette among hem so prudent poHcie, 4392
In ther lyuyng that no discencioun
Sholde arise bi non occasioun
A-mong hemsilfF, in hih or low estat,
Prouydyng euere that there were no debat, 4396
so that the Thus gan the cite encrece and multeplie,
city prospered ,^ ° _, . , i • i
and became the lo wcxe tamous oiT wisoam and nchesse;
first centre of f-r^i i iir rr*!*! i-
knighthood and 1 her Sprang the welle hrst oit philosophic;
p losop y. Xher first off knyhthod ros the hih noblesse, 4400
Bi Theseus, Bochas bereth witnesse:
Thus thynges too, lik as it is fouwde,
Clergie and knyhthod dede there habouwde.
And for to sette the cite in quieete, 4404
CreonTrrifurn ^6 made pcs thoruh al that regions;
the remains of ^nd off knyhthod he manli dede meete
lords slam at -;
Thebes to their Xhc ctucl titauwt that callid was Creouw,
ladies. A /r 1 i • •
Maugre hym made restituciouw 4408
Off lordis bonys, that were at Thebes slayn,
To the ladies, wheroff thei were ful fayn.
Theseus lived Thus thoruh Grcce abrod his renoun spradde; [p. i;d
long in honour ^t- i i i- r i- i i-
and joy, but His knyhtli tame gan gretli multeplie, 4412
turned her'^face And longe in ioie thus his liff he ladde,
anf threw hiS Whil that Fortune list hym magnefie:
whTei/"'™ *"" But ay hir gladnesse is meynt with sum envie.
For she, froward, list no mor soiourne 4416
With Theseus, but gan hir face tourne
4386. 7 are transposed in B. 4386. 2nd his] bi his B.
4387. He]ToR.
4388. stooden R.
4391. founde R — on] of J.
4397. bigan R, J. 4403. knyhthod] lawe J, H 5, lowe R.
4404. And] om. R, J. 4412. began R, bigan J.
4417. began R, J, H 5.
BK. i] Theseus forsakes Ariadne 1 23
Awey from hym, wex peruers and froward,
Off his glorie* ongoodli gan to dulle,
Doun from hir wheel she made [him] go bakward, 4420
Off his good fame she gan the fethres pulle;
Whan his noblesse was hiest at the fulle —
I meene the fulle off his felicite —
Ther folwed an ebbe off gret aduersite. 4424
And, morouer, hir frowardli to quite. After he h»d
' , . ' ^ ^ slam the
His onhappis rehersyng on bi on, Minouur
On the firste, as Bochas list endite,
Was whan he lay in Crete among his fon, 4428
And out off prisoun sholde into Grece gon,
Repeiryng homward & hymsilff withdrawe,
The Mynotaur whan he hadde slawe.
The firste emprise that he vndirtook, 4432
Was whan he scaped thymportable peyne
Off Mynotaurus, lik as seith my book, AriadnT^fo
And with hym ladde the kyngis douhtren tweyne, "^'^"^ *>'» ''f^-
That he off malice falsli list disdeyne 4436
Geyn Adriane, which that dede hym saue
From the deth, whan he lay in the caue.
Sholde ha be slayn, hadde nat hir socour be, —
In his repair he took theroff non heed; 4440 phld^a"'^
He leffte hir sool* in gret aduersite
Withynne an yle, in myscheeff, sorwe & dreed.
And fair[e] Phedra with hym he dede leed,
Weddid hir, lik a forswore man: /\'\^'\
Thus with ontrouthe his myscheeff first began.
How Phedra quit hir, — the story is weel knowe — Phedra fell in
In his absence, Bochas writith thus, poiytus, who
WTian that she, withynne a litil throwe, 4448
Loued ageyn kynde his sone Ypolitus;
But he to hire was contrarious,
4419. gloire B — gan to dulle] be gan to double R, gan to
double J.
4420. him] om. R, J, P, R 3, H 5.
4421. fame she gan] name she bigan R, J. 4422. the] om. J.
4425. to aquyte R, J. 4427. to endite R, J.
4433. escapid R, J. 4435. ladde] hadde R, had J.
4437. Geyn] Ayens R, Ayenst J.
4441. sool] soul B, alone H 5.
4446. hir] om. R — knowe] om. R, coulje J.
4449. his]hirj, P, Hs.
124 Phcedra and Hippolytus [bk. i
Nolde [not] assente to so foul a deede;
For shame he fledde, & parcel eek for dreede, 4452
was killed, as To his fadcr for she hym dede* accuse,
ready seen. As ye tofom ha[ue] the story sayn.
And for he dede hir cumpany refuse,
He wente his way & cam neuer agayn; 4456
For ye haue herd[e] how that he was slayn
Withynne a char, thoruh his vnhappi chaunce,
And how Phedra throuh myscheefF & vengaunce
She then slew Slouh hirsclfF, ageyn al womanheed — '4460
herself; and all __ . i • i i r t i i
this Theseus Hcer m this book totorn as 1 you tolde.
a^puntshment^ Of which[e] thyng, whan Theseus took heed,
Ariadne^""''"^ Thouhte it was vengaunce for his ofFencis olde;
For he nat quit hym lik as he was holde 4464
To Adriane, which sholde ha been his wifF,
Bi whos socour he scaped with the lifF.
This infortune* and this vnhappi chaunce
Was to his noblesse ful contrarious. 4468
The deth also was to hym* a vengaunce
Off his sone callid Ypolitus,
For sorwe off whom, this duk Theseus
With salte teris sore gan compleyne 4472
At the exequies off these ilke tweyne.
He wept bitter I ttowe also it dede hym sore greue,
funeral and Duk Pirotheus whan he sauh li ded,
TrtevS'^Vhen Slayn with a beeste, & myht[e] nat releue, — 4476
!iiin^by'c"r- Kyug Orchus hound, which hadde a treble hed,
berus. Whos teth horrible off his blood were red.
Which infortunye, whan he gan beholde,
Onto the deth he felte his herte colde. 4480
And for to rekne the grete wrechidnessis,
sorrow was that Thunhappi chaunccs that fill hym in his liff.
enceto'phxdra.Amongis alle his other gret distressis,
he gave jcred-
"ra, _
Was non so mortal nor so ful off striff 4484
As whan that he gaff credence to his wiff,
4451. not] om. R 3. 44S2- eek] also R.
4453. hym dede] dede hym B.
4456. his way] away R, J, P, H 5.
4464. holde] beholde R, J. 4466. the] his R.
4467. infortune] Infortunye B. 4469. to hym was also B.
4472. bigan R, bigan to pleyne J.
4473. At] And R, J — these] the R, l>e J.
4475. sauh li] sih be R, sije be J. 4479. infortune R, J.
4484. nor] ne J.
BK. l]
Princes should not be unjust
125
Phedra callid, which off entencioun
Compassid ontreull an accusacioun
Vpon YpoHtus, off hatreed and envie, 4488
Because he nolde do so gret offence
As for tassente to hir lecherie;
Therfore off deth he felte the violence.
And for his fader to soone gaff credence, 4492
Bochas forbit husbondis al ther lyues,
Withoute preeff, nat leeue to soone her wyues,
Nor be [to] hasti talis for to leeue [p. 56]
Off flaterers in chaumbre nor at table; 4496
Forgers of lesyngis, myn auctowr doth weel preeue,
Tabide with lordis that thei be nat able.
Heeron he maketh a chapitle ful notable,
And off his writyng, this was the cause whi: 4500
That pryncis sholde examyne ech parti.
Off wisdam also and off discrecioun,
Withoute a preeff nat be parciall;
For to a prynce it is confusioun,
Yiff atween parties he be nat founde egall,
Causid many on for to haue a fall;
God suffred such nat longe to contune,*
Withdrouh ther grace & hyndred ther fortune.
and for thij
reason Bochat
forbid* hus-
band* to be-
lieve what
their wive* tell
them unless
there be proof.
and advise* u*
not to be
hasty to be-
lieve tale* of
any lort.
A prince must
be equally ynX.
to all men,
otherwise Go'J
4504 will punish
him as he did
Thescu*,
Thus Theseus for his hastynesse,
His happ, his grace discrecid day be day.
The fame appallid off his worthynesse.
And froward Fortune in a-wait eek lay,
For his diffautis to hyndre hym yiif she may;
Caste she wolde his noblesse disauaunce.
And thanne his kyngdam bi disobeisaunce
From hym withdrouh honour and reuerence,
Ful frowardli thoruh al his regiouTi.
Thei off Athenys, bi cruel violence.
Fill ageyn hym in* rebellioun,
That he was fayn to fleen out off the toun:
4508
45"
4516
4520
whose subject*
rebelled and
finally drove
him out of
hi* kingdom.
4485. whan that]] was whan R, J — he] om. J.
4486. oflF] an R, J. 4489. he] om. J.
4490. to assente J — vnto R. 4494- her] om. J.
449$. leeue] heere R, here J, H 5. 4496. nor] ne J.
4505. betwene R, J. 4507. continue B, contynue H 5.
4509. hastifnesse J. 4510. discrecid] distressid J.
4512. in a-wait eek] also in a wayte R, J.
4516. ]^ begins again. 4519. in]inaB, R3.
126 The End of Theseus I^bk. i
Thus hath Fortune dirked the brihtnesse
Off al his nobley, and cast hym in distresse.
This was the eende bi gret contrariouste
Off Theseus, afFtir his daies glade, 4524
Whan the fressh flour(?s off old felicite,
Fortune aduerse made hem for to fade;
Ech thyng mut bowwe whan it is ouer-lade,
Worshepis & honouris, whan thei brihtest shyne, 4528
With vnwar chaunges than rathest douw declyne.
[Lenvoy.]
*
The prosperity I ^HE ouseur gladnesse, the loie transitone,
of princes is ■ ^, °
subject to M. Ihunstable seurnesse, the* transmutaciouws,
The cloudi brihtnesse, the fals eclipsid glorie 4532
Off erthly pryncis which han possessiouns,
Monarchies and dominaciouws —
Ther sodeyn chauwg declareth to vs all,
Ther pompous sugre is meynt with bittir gall. 4536
Fortuna can THis blyude goddessc in hir consistorie,*
take from them ■w-rj.-,-.': . ii*if
their crowns With hir plesauwce medlith discenciouns,
and sceptres, a rr • i i • •
AiTtir tryuwphes, conquest and victone,
Reueth fro pryncis ther sceptres & ther crouns, 4540
Troubleth the peeple with fals rebelliouns:
Seeth bi these dukis, which from her wheel be fall,
Al worldli sugre is meynt with bittir gall.
as this tragedy This tragcdic maketh a memorie * 4544
Off dukis tweyne, & off ther hih renouws;
And off ther loue writ a gret historic.
And how thei conquered dyuers regiouns,
Gouerned cites, contres and eek touns, 4548
Til Fortune ther prowesse dede appall.
To shewe ther sugre was* meynt with bittir gall.
4525. flour R.
4529. doun] doth R. 4530, 32. transitoire, gloire B.
4531. the] ther B. 4534- Monarchies] & monarchies H.
4537> 39' consistoire, victoire B.
4540. fro pryncis] from kyngis R — 2nd ther] the R.
4541. Troubleth] & troublith H.
4542. her] her R.
4543. bittir] sum R.
4544. 46. memoire, histoire B.
4544. a] om. R. 4548. eek] also R.
4550. was] is B — menged R 3 — bittir] sum R, J, H 5.
BK. l]
The Danger of Unstable Princes
Pryncis, Pryncessls, seeth how deceptorie '
Been alle these worldii reuoluciouns,
And how Fortune in hir reclynatorie,
With hir triacle tempreth fals poisouns:
So merueilous been hir confecciouns,
Off frowardnesse she will, what-so be-fall,
Ay with hir sugre off custum tempre gall.
4552
4556
127
Princes, Prin-
cesses, remem-
ber that For-
tune always
tempers her
sugar with
gaU.
^ Here Bochas repreuyth all thimstabilnes of
Princis & ot)ir persones tat 3eve hasti credence
to euery report with-out preef . ^
ALTHOUH so be, in eueri maner age
Folkis be dyuers off condiciouns.
To tume, plie & chaunge in ther corage, 4560
On outher parti with sodeyn mociouns,
And for to bowe* bi transmutaciouns
With eueri wynd, as doon thunstable leuys,
WTiich hange on trees in fo testis and in greuys. 4564
But off alle chaungis, that chaung is most to dreede,
And most feerful is that variaunce.
Whan that pryncis, which may the peeple leede.
Be founde vnstable in ther gouernaunce: 4568
For ther noblesse and ther hih puissaunce
Assureth hem, bi a maner [of] fourme,
What-euer hem list taccomplisshe and parfourme.
To comoun profit thei may most auaile, [p. 57] 4572
Whan thei be reulid bi wisdam and resoun;
And to the peeple thei may most disauaile.
Whan thei lakke wit and discrecioun:
Thus atwen tweyne, in eueri regioun, 4576
4SSi> 53- deceptoire, reclynatoire B. 4556. wole so what R.
4557- Ay] Euere R. ^ The heading in J is as follows: "Here
Bochas writeth ayenst hem that yeueth hasty credence to
Hers and flaterers," MS. J. leaf 24 recto. The following
heading is in R: "In this capitle Bochas repreueth | And
blameth nat oonly princis | All hem that ouerlihtly yeueth
credence | To tuery tale & fable which is." In J, written as
an ordinary stanza: " In this Chapitle Bochas in sentence \ Re-
preue}} and blamej) not oonly princ/j | But all hewt J)at ouer-
lightly [gjeuej) credence | To eu^ry tale and fable whiche is j
Reported vn to hem [break in bandzcriting'] for sothfastnesse |
And list nothyng do as it were dewe | To prove the trouth
whefre it be fals or trewe."
4562. bowve B. 4565. This stanza is marked as in approval's. ■^.
4570. of] om. R 3. 4576. betwene R.
People are
constantly
changing in
their hearts.
but the worst
change is when
princes are
unstable;
for their sub-
jects are apt
to follow their
example.
128 The Danger of Hasty Credence [bk. i
The peeple draweth, who that can discerne,
To good or badde, as pryncis hem gouerne.
Princes must Thai may nat be to hasti nor sodeyne,
judgment But doon all thynge bi good auysement, 4580
Keepe hem from tunges that parted been on tweyne,
Nat be to rakill to yiue no iugement,
And off no folkis, whan thei been absent,
Leue no talis nor yiue no credence, 4584
Till that the parti may come to audience.
or listen to Sumwhile hath happid, how that slouh credence
readily. Hasty Hath in sum cas bc founde ful noious;
worse"than " But hasti ctedence, I dar sey in sentence, 4588
slowness of ^ thousend fold is more pereilous;
For onauysid al haste is odious: ' •
For haste ful offte, for lakkyng off resoun.
Off moch[e] peeple hath be destruccioun. 4592
There is no damage that men can purpose,
Mor to be drad nor mor lamentable.
Nothing indeed Than a prynce his eris to onclose
bedr°ea'ded. To eueti tale and to eueri fable; 459^
It is a tokne ther hertis be nat stable.
Whan thei to flatereris ther eris do* applie,
Namli to such that can weel forge and lie.
Some people Folkis be dyuers, suwme fals and suwme trewe, 4600
are false, some _ , i • i i i
are honourable; In dyuers studies doon ther besynesse;
Summe can studie to fynde out talis newe,
And sumwe for lucre can meyntene weel falsnesse
And holde up quarelis ageyn[e]s rihtwisnesse, 4604
Pretendyng trouthe vnder a fals entent
To hyndre folkis which that been innocent.
it were folly Men to suppose it were a gret foli,
8houw"aU be^ That folkis sholde in ther oppynyoun 4608
Speke or pronounce alle on o parti.
Or holde o weie in ther entencioun;
For semblabli as there is dyuysioun
4579. nor! ne to R.
4584. norj neithir R.
4586. Sumwhile] Sumtyme R.
4587. cas] om. R.
4594. norJ ne R. 4596. 2nd to] om. R.
4598. ther] thei R — do] so B, done R. 4599. forge] om. R.
4600. and] om. R. 4607. to] doe P.
461 1, a dyuysioun R, J, H s, P.
alike;
BK. i] Princes should he slow to give Judgment
129
Off* corages, off hih or low degre.
So is ther treuli a gret dyuersite
In rehersaile or report off a thyng,
For to his parti ech man is fauourable:
Sum man can sey weel in his rehersyng,
Sum man is double, & sum man deceyuable,
Sum men sey trouthe, and summe be variable;
Wherfore a prynce off riht, as it doth seeme,
Sholde weel examyne affom or that he deeme.
For there is noon mor dreedful pestilence
Than a tnnge that can flatre and fage;
For with his cursid crabbid violence
He enfectith folk* off eueri maner age.
Wo to tunges froward off ther language,
And wo to tunges fals, furious and wood.
Which off no persone neuer can sey good.
Bochas rehersith, it is riht weel sittyng
That eueri man other do comende,
And sey the beste alwey in reportyng;
For in weel-seieng may no man offende.
Where men sey weel, God will his grace sende;
Afftir men been, men mut the pris vpreise,
Lich ther meritis allowe hem or dispreise.
But wher a thyng is vttirli onknowe,
Lat no man ther been hasti off sentence;
For rihtful iuges sittyng on a rowe.
Off ther wisdam and off ther hih prudence
Will of trouthe haue first sum euydence —
I meene such as gouemed be bi grace —
Or any doom forbi ther lippis pace.
A prynce sholde assemble thyngis tweyne
Withynwe hymsilff: [affom] ful prudently
Shet up his doomys betwixe lokkis tweyne,
On off the soule, resoun for that party,
Prudence chose out, and riht for the body;
4613
therefore a
prince ought to
examine well
before he de-
4616 livers his
judgment.
4620
4612. OflGInB — ofTJinH.
4615. to] om. H. 4616. in] in all R. 4618. seyth R.
4622. flatre] flaterie R — in red in margin, MS. J. 24 c: no/a.
de falsis Unguis.
4624. infectith R — folkis B, folkes R 3 — maner] om. J.
4626. furious] froward H.
4628. it is riht weel] as it is wele R. 4629. eueri] eu^re R.
4631. no man may R, J. 4641. forth bi R — ther] the H.
4643. aflFom]om.H. 4644. betwixt R. 4645. soule] soneR.
Vs<x to
flattering,
4624 •>"'°?'
4628
4632
4636
4640
4644
slanderous
tongues!
Bochas says
we should
always speak
well of one
another.
and where we
have no knowl-
edge, we
should be
slow to
judge.
A prince should
always decide
according to
reason and
right, and take
truth and con-
science to
counsel.
130 Theseus* Impatience caused his Son's Death [bk. i
And atween bothe, or he yiue a sentence,
To couwsell calle trouthe and good conscience. 4648
He should first First to consldre with eueri circuwstauwce,
whether the DilHgentH doon theron his labour,
honestiyr*^" * Off discteciouw to take the ballauwce.
And first weie out who is thaccusour, 4652
And whethir that he for falsnesse or fauour
In his processe list for to proceede;
Heroff a prynce must off riht take heede.
and if he u a He muste also considre bi and bi, [p. 58] 4656
friend or enemy __., , , . i • i • i • i
of the accused What that he IS, which IS to hym accusid,
^^o^bad" And whethir thaccusour be freend or enmy,
report. q^. ^j^g^-i^ji. j^g g\^^\ \)QQn acceptc* or refusid
In his accus — this muste afFor be musid — 4660
And whethir he be, bi report off his name,
A man weel noised or sclaundrid bi diffame.
If Theseus had Yiff Theseus hadde be thus auysed,
done this, he., • i t rr i
would not have And considred oit resoun the maner, 4664
caused his son's tt i i j ^ l ^'l' J J
death; He hadde nat so hastih deuysed
His sonys deth, lich as ye shal ler:
For yiff ther hadde assemblid been I-feer
In his persone prudence and resoun, 4668
He sholde ha[ue] seyn in his discreciouw,
Be knowlechyng off long experience,
Off his wiff the gret onstedfastnesse,
Mysrwom°e''nare Which thotuh hir froward compassid eloquence 4672
born liars and \Yas redi cuere to brynge folk in distresse,
sometimes t£iltC
too much. As in his writyng Bochas berth witnesse.
Off ther nature women can flatre and fage,
And been sumwhile to copious off language. 4676
Also off wisdam, this duk Theseus
Shold ha[u]e considred afforn in his entent,
How that his sone, callid Ypolitus,
4647. bitwene hem both R.
4650. And diligently R — theron] ther R. . 4654. for] om. R.
4659. he"] that he R — accept] acceptid B and other MSS.
except H 5 which has accepte.
4660. accus] actis J, H 5 — this] he P, thus H 5.
4663. thus had been J, R, H 5.
4672. hir] his R. 4673. inJtoR.
4676. sum tyme R — to copious off] copioMJ of ther R.
4677. this] om. R.
BK. i] Theseus ought to have known his Son better
131
OflF al onclennesse was founde ay innocent; 4680
And how that he off custum made his went
Into forestis duryng his yong age,
To hunte at beestis which that were sauage.
Rennyng on foote, as ye shal vndirstonde, 4684
On hillis, valis teschewen idilnesse,
Mooder off vicis, with his bowe in honde,
Diane to serue off huntyng cheeff goddesse.
Suwtyme to hauke he dede his besynesse; 4688
Eek onto fisshyng he gretly was applied,
So that his youthe was neuer onocupied.
Thus he lyiied in wodis solitarie,
And off Venus despised the seruyse; 4692
A-mong[es] women he wolde neuer tarie,
Ther felashipp he dede alwey despise:
For he dempte, be sentence off the wise.
Who touchith pich, bassay men may see,* 4696
It failith nat he shal defouled be.
Ypolitus sauh weel this thyng afforn,
Kept hym at large from such contrariouste;
His greene youthe he wolde nat haue it lorn, 4700
To be diffoulid for lak off chastite:
For he lyued euer in virgynyte,
And neuer dede, Bochas wil nat varie,
Nothyng that was onto God contrarie. 4704
Thus off entent he kepte his bodi cleene
Duryng his liff, bothe in thouht & deede,
Whos mooder was Ypolita the queene
Off Amazones, in Ouyde ye may reede. 4708
But, o alias, that Theseus took heede.
For a tale off Phedra ful off gile,
Withoute gilt his sone to exile.
Afftir whos deth[e], summe poetis seyn, 4712
How that Diana, for his chastite,
Restorid hym onto lyue ageyn
Bi Esculapius, and gaff hym liberte
In hir forestis to hunten and go fre. 4716
4680. ay] euer R. 4686. in] on H, J, H £.
4689. Eek] Also R — gretly he was R. 4692. dispised R.
4694. alwey] evir H, euer P, euer R 3.
4696. Who] Who so R, J — see] weel see B — In MS. J. in red
in margin: Qui tangit picem &c.
4698.' seeh R — befome H. 4707. was] om H.
Theseus shonld
have remem-
bered that his
son was a
banter
who despised
the society of
women
and always re-
mained chaste.
His mother
was Hippolyte;
and after his
death Diana
restored him
to life and
gave him leave
to hunt in her
forests forever.
132 Bochas exclaims against Women
For which restoryng, as writ Ouidius,
As twies a man, men callid hym Virbius.
[bk. I
Bochas here
makes a great
outcry against
women and
says that they
are deceitful by
nature and like
insatiable beasts.
Heer Bochas makith an exclamacion a-geyn the
pride of vommen And thonseumes of princes.
UT Bochaj heer, I not what he doth meene,
B
Maketh in his book an exclamacioun
Ageyn[e]s women, that pite is to scene —
Seith how ther lyne, ther generacioun
Been off nature double off condiciouw,
And calhth hem eek dyuers and onstable,
Beestis rassemblyng that been insaciable.
Of course he He meneth off women that be born in Crete,
means only the -^-r 1 rr 1 1 i 11 • 1 •
women of Crete, JNothyng oiT hem that duelle m this centre:
oTthis TOunto' For women heer, al doubilnesse thei lete,
are very differ- ^^j ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ off mUtabihte,
Thei loue no chauwgis nor no duplicite;
For ther husbondis, in causis smal or grete,
What-euer thei seyn, thei can nat couwtirplete.
4720
4724
4728
4732
Blessed
be God, who
made them so
humble and
patient. I
don't mean
one, but all,
as their hus-
bands can
testify;
Blessid be God, that hath hem maad so meek, [p. 59]
So humble and feithful off ther condiciouws;
For thouh men wolde cause* and mater seek
Ageyn ther pacience to fynde occasiouns, 4736
Thei han refusid al contradicciouws.
And hem submittid thoruh ther gouernauwce,
Onli to meeknesse and womanli suffrauwce.
I speke off alle, I speke nat off on.
That be professid onto lowlynesse;
Thei may ha[ue] mouthes, but language ha[ue] thei non
Alle trewe husbondis can bern heroff witnesse;
For weddid men, I dar riht weel expresse.
That haue assaied and had experience,
Best can recorde off wifli pacience.
4740
4744
4718. callid] call R — between this line and the next the following
note in red, MS J. 25 a: "Nota de transformatis i bis vii."
4722. Seith] Seeth H — 2nd ther] the H. 4724. eek] also R.
4726. women] them H. 4727. hem that is muddled in R.
4729. tech] tache R. 4734. feithful] feerdful R.
4735. cause] causes B, R 3 P, H — mateers H.
4743. heroff] \>er of R.
4744. riht] ful R.
BK. l]
Bocbas on Human Nature
133
For as it longeth to men to be sturdy.
And sumwhat froward as off ther nature, 4748
Riht so can women suffre paciently.
And alle wrongis humbl[el]i endure.
Men sholde attempte no maner creature,
A[nd] namli women, ther meeknesse for to preue, 4752
Which may weel suffre whil no man doth hew greue.
Eueri thyng resortith to his kynde,
As Bochas writith, sum tyme off the yeer;
And yit, who serchith, hi processe he shal fynde 4756
That trouthe and vertu may neuer fade off cheer:
For rihtwisnesse will alwey shyne cleer;
Trouthe & falsnesse, in what thei ha[ue] to doone,
Thei may no while assemble in o persone. 4760
Feith and flatrie, thei be so contrarie,
Thei may togidre holde no soiour;
Nor symplesse, which that can nat varie.
May neuer accorde with a baratour, 4764
Nor innocence with a losengour,
Nor chastite can nat hirsilff applie
Hir to confottrme onto [no] ribaudie.
Crafft and nature sue the professioun 4-68
Bi thordynaunce set in ther courage;
And ech man folweth his condicioun.
As off the stok the frut hath his tarage:
Pilgrymes may gon ful ferr in ther passage, 4772
But I dar seyn, how ferr that euer thei go,
Ther bit sum tarage off that that thei caw fro.
Bochas maketh an introduccioun
In this chapitle, off the hih noblesse 4776
That pryncis han in ther possessioun;
And bi a maner lawhhyng doth expresse, '
How for to sette hem in gret sekimesse.
lot, unlike
men, they
suffer all
wroogs ia
humility.
Truth and
falseness are
never found
together ia one
person.
or good faith
and flatterj'.
simplicity in a
boaster or
chastity ia a
ribald.
Each man lives
according to
his character.
Bochas laughs
at those
princes who
have sergeants
waiting upon
them and
soldiers
4747- it] om. R. 4750. humbileth R.
47S3. doth] do P, H 5.
4755. as write Boch. H.
4759- &] om. R. 4761. so] om. R.
4762. may not R — no] om. R. 4763, 65. Nor] Neithir R.
4768. MS. J. 25 b ir. red between the lines: "Ars mutat naturam.
4771. his] the R. 4774. 2nd that] om. R.
4775. Bochas maketh] Makith here bochas R.
4776. the] om. R.
4778. lawhhyng] louthyng R — doth] om. H.
134 ^^^ Suspicion and Dread of Lords []bk. i
Thei han sergauntis vpon hem abidyng, 4780
And men ofF armys day and nyht waityng.
to keep people That no man entre, but yifF he ha[ue] licence,
from approach- _,, f ^ • i i
ing them. 1 he irowatd portens stondyng at the gate
Putte men a-bak be sturdi violence; 4784
It were ful hard ageyn hem to debate,
Ther wachchis kept erli and eek late;
And hem tassure a-nyhtis whil thei slepe.
The chauwberleyns ther dorys streihtli keepe. 4788
They are Men assigned ther metis to assaie,
watched _-, ^, i- i
oyer day and To taste thct wyncs, list thet were tresouw;
anwNh'^ir^'^ ^uch mortal dreed these lordis doth afFraie;
i^'^ta^s"fd''for^ So is thet seurnesse meynt with suspeciouw: 4792
in^'S'skron'lrdWho fedith hym gladli, that ferith hym ofFpoisoun?
^e". But pore folk frauwchised from such dreed,
[With] such as God sent meryly* thei hem feed.
Poor people are But poetis that Write tragedies, 4796
d7e*ad'° The Ther compleynyng is al off hih estatis,
ha^ve"ka"t"peace Rehersyng euer ther pitous iuparties,
of mind. Ther sodeyn chauwgis & ther woful fatis,
Ther dyuysiouws and ther mortal debatis, 4800
And ay conclude ther dites, who can reede,
Hiest estatis stonde ay most in dreede.
Of all this And ground & roote off al this mortal trouble,
tere'rs^are the As Writ Bochas and plcynli berth witnesse, 4804
oral! is°the°r' Been these lieres with ther tunges double,
whaHhty'sIy. Themsilff afforcyng ay trouthe to oppresse;
With whom flatrie is a cheefF maistresse:
And, werst off all, to ther dreedful sentence, 4808
Is whan pryncis been hasti off credence.
Hasty credence Hasti ctcdence is roote off al errour,
is the source of.- , irriJ '1
great sorrow. A froward stepmooder orr al good counsail.
Ground ofFgret hyndryng, a dreedful deceyuour, 4812
4780. sergauntls3 s^ruauntis R, J, H 5.
4781. waityng] awaityng H, R, P, H 5.
4782. entre] may entre R. 4786. eek] also R.
4787. a-nyhtis] on nyhtis R — whil] whan R.
4790. wynes is altered into wyfFes R.
479c. With] om. R, J, H S — sent] hem sent R, J, them sent
H 5 — meryly] with merthe (mirthe) B, J, R, H 5.
4798. Rehersyng] Rewerdyng R.
4800. 2nd ther] om. H. 4801. ay] eu^r R.
4806. afforcyng] ay forshyng R.
BK. 0
An Envoy on Hasty Judgment
Fair ofFte off face, with a ful pereilous tail,
Gladli concludyng with ful gret disauail,
Next neyh[e]bour onto repentaunce
To all that truste & haue in hir plesaunce.
4816
13s
fl Lenvoye.
PRYNCIS, considreth, how in eueri age [p. 60]
Folkis be dyuers off ther condicioun
To plie & tume & chaunge in ther corage;
Yit is ther non, to myn opynyoun, 4820
So dreedful chaung nor transmutacioun.
As chaung off pryncis to yiue a iugement.
Or hasti credence, withoute auisement.
It is weel founde a passyng gret damage,
Knowe and expert in eueri regioun,
Thouh a tale haue a fair visage.
It may include ful gret decepcioun:
Hid vndir sugre, galle and fell poisoun, 4828
With a fresh face off double entendement —
Yit yiueth no credence withoute auisement.
Let folkis alle be war off ther language.
Keep ther tunges from oblocucioun, 4832
To hyndre or hurte bi no maner outrage,
Preserue ther lippis from al detraccioun.
Fro chaumpartie and contradiccioun;
For list that fraude wer founde in ther entent, 4836
Ne yiueth no credence withoute auisement.
Pryncis, Pryncessis, off noble and hih parage,
Which ha[ue] lordshipe and domynacioun,
Voide hem a-side, that can flatre and fage; 4840
Fro tunges that haue a tarage off tresoun,
Stoppith your eris from ther bittir soun;
Beth circumspect, nat hasti but prudent.
And yiueth no credence withoute auisement. 4844
Princes, the
most dreadful
thing you can
do is to
deliver a hasty
judgment.
Q A story may
4024 look well, yet
be wholly false.
Beware of
speaking ill of
others.
and above all
avoid liars and
flatterers.
4813. offte^ owi. R — ful] om. R. 4814. disseivaile R.
4817. Pryncessis considre R.
4819. & chaunge in ther] in ther & chaunge R.
4821. nor] ne R. 4822. a] om. R. 4829. entendent R.
4830. yiueth] yeue R.
4832. allocucion R. 4833. maner of R.
4838. parage] Corage H.
136 The Story of Althcea and Meleager [bk. i
[Oflf Quene Althea, and how Hercules by women
was brouht to confusioun.] ^
Bochas turning T T /"HAN Bochflj haddc shewed his sentence,
again to those ■ / * / '
w
who had been ▼ T And declared his opynyoun
Fortune, Gcyn hem that wer[e]n hasti off credence,
He gan anon make a digressioun 4848
Fro that mater, and off entencioun
To serche out mo, his purpos to contune,*
That were doun cast & hyndred hi Fortune.
saw among a And, as he thouhte, he sauh a cuwpanye 48'?2
large company ^ l • i • i i 11
of worthies utt many worthi, which to hym dede appeere;
Queen Althaea aj iir^iii
weeping, with And a-mong alle hrst he dede espie
ordered hair!" Quecn Althea, as she gan neihhe hym neere,
Al bedewed hir face and eek hir cheere 4856
With salt[e] teris, that pite was to seene.
Which whilom was off Calidonye* the queene.
She was the douhter off kyng Testius,
Weddid to Oene off CaHdoyne* kyng, 4860
Off cheer and face apperyng ful pitous,
^atgetbiick' Hir her to-torn and frowardli liggyng;
gown. ^j^j jj^ tokne also off compleynyng.
As writ Bochas, wheroff he took [good] heed, 4864
Blak was hir habite, and al to-rent hir weed.
A sone she hadde, Mell[e]ager he hihte;
^HedMefeage", I" ctthe was ther non fairere for to see,
Hrlh^ the' Fates ^^^^ wccl fauouted in eueri manys sihte; 4868
pst a brand And, as I fynde, at his natyuite
and said that Present wern the Fatal Sustren thre
consumed the With thet rokkc, and gan to spynwe faste,
child would die. ^^ J ^^^y. ^ j^j.^^ J ^^ J jj^^.^ gj. j^ ^^^^^ ^g^^
And in that hour this was her language:
"Touchyng this child, we ful accorded be,
And han disposid the terme eek off his age,
4847. Geyn^ Ayens R. 4850. contune] contynue B.
4852. he sauh] hym seeh R.
4856. bedewed] be wepid R — eek] also R.
4857. was] is H.
4858. whilom] sum tyme R — Calidonye] Calcidonye B, H 5,
Calcydonye J, Calcidon R 3 — the] om. H.
4859. Thestius P.
4860. Calidoyne] Calcidoyne B, Calcydonye J, Calcidonye H 5.
4864. he] I H. 4866. Melliager R, Mellager H, R 3.
4871. roicke and gan] rokkis and bigan R.
4873. in] into R.
4875. the terme eek] also the terme R.
1 MS, J. leaf 25 verso.
BK. i}
MeUager kills a Savage Boar
137
4876
4880
The space concludid off his destyne.
As long[e] tymp, who-so list to see,
Til this brond among the coles rede
Be ful consumed into asshes dede."
But whan Althea espied ther entente,
And conseyued the fyn off ther sentence,
She ros hire up, and the brond she hente
Out off the fir with gret dilligence,
Queynt anon the fires violence;
The doom off Parcas she gan thus disobeie.
The brond reseruyng vnder lok and keie.
Touchyng the fader off this Mell[e]ager,
Oeneus, off hym thus I reede,
How he wente and souhte nyh and fer
Goddis and goddessis, who-so list take heede,
In hope onli for to ha[ue] gret meede;
For to hem alle, poetis thus deuise,
Sauf to Diana, he dede sacrefise.
Wheroff she cauhte an indignacioun;
Caste she wolde on hym auengid be;
Sente a boor into his regioun,
Ful sauage and ful off cruelte.
Which deuoured the frut off many a tre
And destroied his cornys and his vynes.
That such scarsete off vitaile and off wynes
Was in his land vpon euery side.
That the peeple off necessite
Compellid wem a-mong hem to prouide
Sum mene weie to saue ther contre.
And at the laste thei condescendid be.
That Mell[e]ager, lusti off his corage,
Shold chese with hym folk fresh & yong off age.
This dreedful boor myhtili tenchace. 4908
And foorth thei wente, echon deuoid off dreed,
With rounde speris thei gan hym to manace.
But Mell[e]ager made first his sides red,
And with a suerd[e] than«e smet off his hed; 4912
4879. aspiede R.
4882. hire] om. R, J, H 5.
4888. Oneus H. 4889] How that he souht nyh & fer R.
4899. distried R. 4900. vitailes R. 4903. hem] om. R.
4905. thei] the R. 4906. his] om. R. 4907. fressh folkis R.
4910. began R. 4911. red] bleede H.
But AJthia
extinguished the
flame and put
the brand
away under lock
and key.
4884
Meleager's
father, CEneus,
in hope of
reward made
offerings to all
the gods and
goddesses ex-
cept Diana, who
in anger sent a
J, boar to devas-
4092 tajj his Land,
4896
4900
[p. 61]
which was killed
by Nfdeager.
4904
138
Meleager slays his Two Uncles
Hbk.
WherofF the centre was ful glad & fayn.
And in this wise the tusshi boor was slayn.
Some books SuTnmc boolcis telle ofF this huntyng,
say that Ata- _,, i i • i • i i • \
lanta wounded 1 hat a ladi, which was born m Arge, 4916
with a" arrow, CalHd Athalanta, doubter to the kyng,
To sle this boor took on hire the charge,
And with an arwe made his wounde large.
Eek in Guide lik as it is fouwde, 4920
Because that she gafF the firste wounde,
and Meleager, Mell[e]ager anon for a memorie,
knight, gave As he that was hir owne chose knyht,
and'when\is Gaff hir the bed in tokne off this victorie. 4924
TiromZXy But his tweyne vncles, ageyn al skile & ribt,
them. ''" ''"" Rafft hir the bed, off verray force & myht,
Hauyng despiht that she, in ther auys.
Off this victorie sholde here awey the prys. 4928
With which iniurie Mell[e]ager was wroth,
And ageyn hem proudli gan disdeyne;
Pullith out a suerd and vpon hem he goth,
And thorub his manhod slouh his vncles tweyne, 4932
And afftir that dede his besi peyne
To take the bed, and with ful bumble entente.
To Athalante ageyn it to presente.
On off his vncles was callid Flexippus, 4936
A manli knyht, and but yong off age;
The totber brother named Thesyus.
But whan ther suster herde off this outrage,
How thei were slayn, she gan in hir visage 4940
Wexe ded [&] pale, alias, for lak off blood,
Whan she espied the cause bow it stood.
She badde no mater, God wot, to be fayn,
Queen Althea, to stonden and beholde 4944
Hir bretbre tweyne off hir sone slayn
At the huntyng, off which toforn I tolde.
First thyngis too she gan peise & onfolde:
When Althaea
heard of this
she grew pale
and began to
consider the
love she bore
her brothers and
her son's hasty
deed.
tusshi] tuskye R, tusky J.
Suwme] And some H, P, And som R 3.
woundis R. 4920. Eek] Also R.
RafFt] berauht H. 4927. ther] his R.
bigan R. 4931. PuUid R. 4932. he slouh R.
callid] namyd H. 4937- and] om. R.
4938. Theseus H, R. 4942. aspied R.
4944. to] sto R (*/ttn</.ff o/j-m*^). 4947. too] tweyne R.
4914,
4915
4919
4926,
4930
4936
BK. l]
Althaas Indecision
139
Off hir brethre the loue and nyh kenrede, 4948
And off hir sone the hasti cruel deede.
And remembryng, she castith in ballaunce,
Off hertli wo that she dede endure,
Thouhte yiff she dede vpon ther deth vengauwce, 4952
To slen hir sone it were ageyn nature.
Thus in a weer longe [time] she dede endure,
Hir dedli sorwe peisyng eueri^eel,
Whethir she* shal be tendre or cruel. 4956
Thus tendre, I meene, hir sone for to spare.
Or punshe the deth off hir brethre tweyne.
Thus counfortles, al destitut and bare.
In langwisshyng shendureth foorth hir peyne; 4960
And remedie can she non ordeyne,
Sauf fayn she wolde auenge hir, yiff she may.
But thanne cam nature foorth and seide nay.
It was hir sone, a-geyn al kyndli riht 4964
On whom she caste auenged for to be:
To women alle an ougli straunge siht.
That a mooder, deuoid off al pite,
Sholde slen hir child so merciles parde. 4968
Nay nay, nat so, nature wil nat assente;
For yiff she dede, ful sore she shal repente.
But O alias, al fatal purueiaunce
Kepith his cours, as summe clerkis seyn; 4972
But the writyng off doctours, in substaunce.
And these dyuynes replie ther ageyn,
And afferme thoppynyoun is in veyn
Off hem that truste on fate or destyne: 4976
For God aboue hath the souereynte.
And off Fortune the power may restrejoie,
To saue and spille lik as folk disserue;
Ageyn his will thai may nothyng ordeyne 4980
Off necessite, what cours that thei conserue.
But this mateer al hooli I reserue
It were against
nature to slay
her Km;
yet the murder
of his uncles
must be
avenged.
Without com-
fort she
remained
undecided;
but Fate must
take its coarse
(although not
against God's
»-ill).
495 1, indure H.
4954. she dyd long while endure R (in later band) — time]
om. R 3.
4956. she] that she B, R 3. 4960. foorth] for R.
4961. non] noon othir H, none other P.
4963. forth nature R — foorth] ageyn H. 4970. shal] did R.
497S- And] om. H. 4976. on] of H — destanye R.
4981. that] om. R.
140
Althcea casts the Brand into the Fire
[bk.
4992
Onto deuynys to termyne and conclude,
Which apparteneth to* no folkis rude. 4984
«nd Althaea, But Althca, ofF Calidoync* queen, [p. 62]
suddenly moved -^ i i • i ii n j
to wrath, Gan soFC ttiusc, and heeng in a ballaunce:
Hir brethre ded, whan she dede hem seen,
Thanwe was she meued anon to do vengauwce
Vpon hir sone bi ful gret displesaunce;
But as poetis list for to compile,
Nature made hire withdrawe hir hand a while
Thus atwen ire and twen afFeccioun
She heeld hir longe, on nouther parti stable,
Till that she cauhte in hir opynyouw
A sodeyn rancour, which made hire be vengable;
And hasti wrathe,* which is nat comendable, 4996
Ageyn hir sone, maad hire with hir bond
Out off hire chest to take the fatal brond.
cast the brand And sodcnli she cast it in the fir,
into the nre. a i i i i i
And wex cruel, ageyn al womanheede, 5000
To execute hir venymous desir.
The fatal brond among the flawmys rede
Consumed was into asshes dede;
And furiously in hir malencolie, 5004
The vengaunce doon, thus she gan to crie:
"O ye Parchas, froward sustre thre,
Which off loue keepe the librarie,
And off childre at ther natyuyte 5008
Waite his sentence, which [that] may nat varie,
Wherso it be welful or contrarie,
Vpon his doomys takyng alway heed.
How that ye shal dispose the fatal threed. 5012
Thou Cloto first takest* thi rokke on honde.
And Lachesis* afFtir doth begynwe,
4983. determyne R.
4984. apparteneth^ nat parteneth B, R, J, H 5 — to3 onto B,
R, H 5 — no] om. R, J, H 5.
4985. Calidoync] Calcidoyne B, Calidonye R.
4986. Bigan R — a] om. R. 4987. seen] se H.
4992. atwen] bitwene R — twen] betwene R.
4996. wraththe B — is nat] ne is R.
5002. flawmys] colis R. 5006. sustren R, H.
5008. children R. 5009. Waite his] Awayten the R.
5013. first] om. R, J, H 5 — takest] cast B, H {scribal blunder
for tast), take R, takith R 3 — on] in R.
5014. Lachesis] Lathesis B, R, J {a slip of pen merely, c and
are often scarcely distinguishable).
Vengeance
thus taken,
she cried
aloud to the
Parcae, Clotho,
Lachesis, and
Atropos,
BK. i}
The Death of Althaa
141
Bi gret auys, who can vndirstonde.
The threed on lengthe to drawen & to spynne; 5016
But whan the sperit shal fro the bodi twynne,
Thou Attropos doost thi cruel peyne
Ful frowardli to parte the threed on tweyne.
I may weel pleyne on such departisoun, 5020
Nat for a day, but, o alias, for euere!
Ye han ontwynyd and maad dyuysioun
Off my too brethre, [and] causid hem disseuere.
That heer a-lyue I shal seen hem neuere. 5024
And I off haste, alias, whi dede I so!
Tauenge ther deth ha[ue] slayn my sone also.
0 ye thre douhtren off Herberus the felle,
Whos ougli mooder was the blake nyht, 5028
Al your kynreede and lynage lith in helle;
And for tauenge the wrong and gret onriht
Which that I haue accomplisshid in your siht,
1 will with you perpetueli compleyne, 5032
Lich my desert endure sorwe & peyne!"
And whil she gan thus with hirself[e] stryue
Vpon hir sorwes, that were eend[e]les.
She made a suerd thoruhout hir h<frte ryue, 5036
Off hir liff heer she was to rech[e]les.
AND Bochas affter, amonges al the pres,
Sauh, as hym thouhte, with a ful hidous cheer,
Ded off visage, Hercules appeere, 5040
Whos fader was lubiter the grete,
His mooder doubter off kyng Amphitrion,
Callid Alcumena, whilom born in Crete.
And as poetis rehersyn oon bi oon, 5044
So excellent was ther neuer noon.
"You have
killed my two
brothers, and,
alas, now I
have slain my
son to avenge
their death. I
will complain
with you for-
ever!"
Whereupon she
thrust a sword
through her
heart.
Hercules, son
of Jupiter and
Alcmene, most
famous of men,
next apTCared
before Bochas.
5015. who SO R. 5016. on^ofR.
5018. Antropos R, J, H 5, Antrapos R 3. 5019. on] or R.
5020. on] in R, J, of R 3 — departicioun H, H 5, departicion R, P.
5023. brethern J — and] om. H.
5024 . heer] he R — on lyue R.
5027. Cerebus R, J, H 5, Herebus H, Erebus P — thre] om. J.
5029. Al] And R — & al your lynage hih R. ♦
5034. Large capital in B — she gan] be gan J — wt'ti hirsilff
\)us streyue R, J.
5036. to ryue R, arive H.
5037. heer] om. H, R, R 3 — llflF] silflF R, silf T, H c — to] om.
R, so H, R 3, P.
5038. B bos no initial here. 5042. kyng] om. R.
5043. sumtyme R.
142
Hercules appears before Bochas
[bk. I
To speke off conquest, [of] victorie* and [of] fame,
Heer In this world that hadde so gret a name.
He was terrible Dreedful of look hc was, and rlht terrible,
His herd eek blak, which heeng ful lowe doun.
And al his her as bristlis wer horrible.
His robe also, ful merueilous off facioun,
Was off the skyn ofF a fers leouw,
Which [from his bake] of verray force he rente,
With-in a forest* alone whan he wente.
black-bearded,
with bristly hair
and dressed in
a lion's skin,
and he held
a mace
of steel in his
hand.
In his hand he bar a maas off steel.
Which to beholde was wonder large & huge
Bi apperence, as Bochas felte weel;
Dempte off resouw, as a rihtful iuge,
That Hercules hadde to his refuge
Wisdam with force, for tencrece his fame,
AUe beestis wilde for to make hem tame.
"Take heed,
Bochas," he
said, "my
merits are
more com-
mendable than
any tongue can
tell.
"Before my
birth, Jove
said to Juno,
that Hercules,
noblest oi the
noble, would
be born on
such a day.
5048
50s*
5056
5060
And onto Bochas he gan loude crie,
"Tak riht good heed[e], for it is no fable,
I for my meritis, to speke off cheualrie 5064
And noble triuwphes, am most comendable,
To be preferrid most worthi and most hable.
Which haue accowplisshid al that may excelle
Thoruh hih prowesse, that any tunge* can telle. 5068
Eek off my berthe, in heuene ful yore ago [p. 63]
FuUi conceyued my constellaciouw,
Mihti loue saide onto luno.
On such a day, in such a regioun, 5072
Oon shal be born, most myhti off renoun,
Noblest off nobles bothe in werre and pes,
OfF whom the name shal be Hercules.
5046. victoire B.
5049. eek^ also R.
5053. from his bake]] om. H, R 3.
5054. With-in a forest] From his bak B, H, R 3 — whan] as
R3,H5.
5055. mas J, mase H 5, mace R, R 3, P.
5058. Demede R.
5060. With force wisdome R — for] om. R — fame] name H,
5061. Alle] As R.
5065. nobles R — triumphes is muddled in R.
5068. hih] his R 3, his hih R — tunge] mouth B, H, man R 3.
5069. Eek] Also R.
BK. l]
Hercules and Eurystheus
143
The which[e] doom whan luno vndirstood, 5076
Off lubiter conceyuyng the entente,
And knew my fate sholde be so good,
To Lucynya hir messager she sente." . . .
But summe seyn, how doun hirselfF she wente 5080
To this goddesse, goddesse off childyng.
And hir besouhte to grauwte hire hir askyng:
That she wolde from Hercules translate
The influence off" his natyuyte, 5084
Helpe to reuerse his fame and eek his fate,
And grauwte it hqoli to yong Euristee;
And that Lucynya present wolde be
The same hour bi lubiter prouyded, 5088
It to posseede al hool and ondeuyded.
Thus to the mooder off [this] Euristee,
luno the goddesse grauntid hir fauour,
Therbi disposyng that he sholde be 5092
Mihti off puissaunce lik an emperour;
But off his noblesse the conquest & labour,
And off his manhod the prowesse and pursut
Bi Hercules was fully execut. 5096
Thus Hercules hadde the trauaile.
And Euristeus bar awey the name;
Eek Hercules fauht in plate & maile.
And hih emprises proudli dede attame: 5100
But the report off his noble fame
To Euristeus was fynali ascryued;
Thus off his thank was Hercules dcpryued.
Ful ofFte in armys sum man doth riht weel, 5104
And ofFte causith that the feeld is won we;
And off a-nother that dede neueradeel,
The price out-spredith lich a sheene sonne.
And ofFte it happith, that he that best hath ronwe 5108
Doth nat the spere lich his desert posseede,
Wher fals fauour yeueth eueri man his meede.
"But Juno
contrived that
my good for-
tune should be
translated to
young Eurj's-
theus."
So it was
Hercules who
achieved the
conquests and
had all the
labour, while
Eurystheus
bore away the
name.
It often hap-
pens that the
man who wins
the victory
does not get
the credit for
it. Fame has
more than one
trumpet.
5083. wolde] sholde H.
5085. reuerse] resirrue R, J, H 5 — fame] name R, J, H 5
eek] om. R, J, H 5.
5090. this] om. H. 5097. Thus] This J.
5099. Eek] Thus R, Also J, H 5. 5100. hih] his R.
5102. was fynali] fully was R.
5107. lich a] as shyneth Jie R, as shine^j \,t J, H 5, P.
5108. 2nd that] which R.
144 Good Fortune is not always to the Victor []bk. I
Fame in hir paleis hath trumpes mo than oon,
Sumwe ofF gold that yeuen a ful fressh soun; 5112
Sum man hath laude, that deserueth non,
And summe ha[ue] been ful worthi off renoun,
Nothyng preferrid hi comendaciouw,
As hi report off statis hih and lowe, 5116
So frowardli Famys truwpe hath blowe.
Touchyng armys, the poore nor the riche
Be nat echon off herte coragous;
Nor alle men may nat been iliche, 5120
foiiow\hTt\e Nor off ther name egal nor gracious.
de^e° fiways^^ -^"^ thouh the poore ha[ue] be victorious,
eats the veni- Off auenture to do ful weel sum day,
though one Other ha[ue] pynchid to take his thank away. 5124
the\^sh! \t^^ Oon sleth the deer with an hokid arwe,
who geVth?'''^ ^'^os part is non yit off the venysoun;
birds. Oon bet the bussh, another hath the sparwe,
And alle the birdis in his possessiouw; 5128
Oon draweth his nettis in ryuers vp & dou«.
With sundri baitis* cast out lyne and hook,
And hath no part off al that euer he took.
An euidence heeroff ye may see, 5132
Ful notable to be put in memorie,*
Off Hercules and [of] Euristee;
KheuTare For Hercules gat ay the victorie,
this^''*"'^'^ °^ ^^^ Euristeus receyued hath the glorie. 5136
Thus ther palme partid was on tweyne;
The ton reioisshid, the tother bar the peyne.
f pHnceTf ^''^ Euristeus was a prynce off Athene,
Athens son of ^qxxq and hair be discent off lyne 5140
king Sthenelus; ii- i n mi
but it was Onto the kyng that callid was Stillene,
won the prize Vuder whos myht, as Bochas doth termyne,
Hercules thoruh knyhtli disciplyne
Profitid so, most manli and most wis, 5144
That from all othre he bar awey the pris.
5112. yeueth H.
5117. Famys] fame his R, J, P, H 5. 5118. nor] ne R, J, P.
5119. herds R. 5120, 21. Nor] Neithir R.
5122. poore man R. 5127. betith R. 5129. &] owi. R.
5130. baitis] battis B — out] om. R 3. 5132. An] In R.
5133,35,36. memoire, victoire, gloire B. 5134. 2ndof]o»t. H.
5137. departid was in R.
5139. a] om. R, H 5. 5142. detirrmyne R.
5144. Profited] Prouided J, Prouisid R, Prouidid P.
of victory.
BK. i] HercuUs and loU 145
But O alias, that euer it sholde fall, Alas that »
' , . noble a man
So noble a knyht, so manli, so notable, «houid be
1111' • 11 drawn from bis
That any spotte sholde his pns appall 5148 knighthood by
Or cause his corage for to been onstabl^f, * woman.
Which is a thyng doolful and lamentable,
From his knyhthod, which is a thyng to straunge,
That euer a woman sholde his herte chaunge! 5152
I will excuse hem, because ther nature [p. 64] i ^^ ,
' . ir T^j excuse them,
Ys to chaungen hertis and corages; for it \% their
. , " f. J nature to cause
A-geyn ther power no force may endure, hearts to
For ther flatrie and sugrid fair language, 5156 " *°^
Lich Sirenes, fressh off ther visage,
For tenchaunge off pryncis the noblesse,
Mo than Hercules can bem heerofF witnesse.
Thus Hercules, astoned and ashamed, 5160 f^^^^'^^j
Onto Bochas shewed his presence, before Bochas
Seide, "alias! my knyhthod is difFamed my knighthood'
Bi a ful fals amerous pestilence, Fo"i^™LimV
So sore constreyned bi mortal violence, 5164 ^^^dr'IS^^
Wherbi, alias, my manhod was applied, |^ 'o^' °^
Be sleihte off women oppressid & maistried,
To take ther habite & clothe me in ther weede.
To shaue my herd and farse my visage 5168
With oynementis, ageyn[es] al manheede,
To make it souple, & chaungid my language;
And to compleyne mor off myn outrage,
Vpon my fyngris, fyue twies told, 5172
I hadde ryngis richeli wrouht off gold.
Thus was my corage chaungid femyiiyne
For loue off oon callid Yole,
Off condiciouns thouh she were serpentyne, 5176 though the
Me thouhte she was so fair vpon to see, ^"dne * **"
That al my ioie was with hire to be; disposition.
And that non sholde apparceyue my trespace,
I chaungid bothe habite, look and face, 5180
5152. his herte3 herofF here R. 5155. power] nature R.
5156. languages R. 5157. visages R.
5158. tenchaunge] to eschauwge R.
5160. astonyed R.
5168. shaue] shere R — farse] force R.
5170. chaunge R.
5177. so fair] fayrest R.
146 Hercules laments the Loss 0/ his Good Name |~bk. i
5184
"Wherefore,
Bochae, tell
ray misfortunes
as they were in
deed, bo that
others, hearing
of them, may
amend their
vicious lives.
Even wise men
may profit by
the example of
fools."
• I did this that And was a woman outward in apparence,
I might ap- ^„ , ...
proach her (Jit cntcnt to hauc Hior liDcrte
freely; but it np i • i i
has ruined my 1 o vsc my lustis, and hauc experience
good name. Qg- ^ppetitis which that onlecfful be.
WherofF the sclauwdre reboundeth onto me,
That I dar seyn, myn outragous trespace
Doth al my knyhthod & my prowesse difFace.
Wherfore, O Bochas, I pray the tak good heede 5188
For to descryue in termys pleyn and cleer
Myn infortunye, riht as it was in deede,
That whan other conceyue the maneer
Off myn onhappis, contagious for to heer, 5192
Thei may bexauwple off me doon ther peyne,
From vicious lifF ther hertis to restreyne.
For these foolis that al wisdam despise,
And be contrarie* to vertuous disciplyne, 5196
May yiue exaumple to folkis that be wise.
And been to hem a lanterne off doctryne,
Vices teschewe and prudentli declyne
Fro flesshli lustis; for it is tauht in scoolis, 52cx>
That wise men been alday war be foolis."
Bochas thought Whan Bochas hadde conceyued the compleynt
wrong to speak Off Hctcules in his appceryng,
alone' ^"^*^* And how his noblesse bi women was atteynt
Thoruh his pitous disordynat lyuyng.
He thouhte anon, hymselue remembryng.
It hadde be routhe for taput in mynde
His vicis alle, and vertues lefft behynde.
or in any way Considted also it was inpettyneut,
to cast a slur /-> i i • i • i -i
on his good (Juthcr bi language to write, ageyn al riht.
Any* thyng that sholde in sentement
The fame amenuse off so noble a knyht,
Or to discrece in ony manys siht
His glorious prowesse, sith poet<?j- for his werris
Reisen his renouw so hih aboue the sterris.
5204
5208
5212
5x81. R omits to 5348, leaf lost between 32 and 33.
5188. Wherfore] wher of H, P, H 5.
5 191. maneer] mateere H, matter R 3, P.
5196. contraire B.
5201. been alday war] al dai ben tau^t J, H c.
5207. taput] ta be put H, to put J, H j, to nave put P.
5209. impertinent P.
S2II. Any] And B, H, P, A R 3.
BK.
I]
The Labours of Hercules
147
For he was bothe knyht and phillsophre, 5216
And for his strengthe callid a geaunt;
For comoun profit he proudli gan eek profre,
Off manli corage yafF therto ful graunt,
Tentre in Egipt &* slen ther the tiraunt 5220
Callid Busiris, which off ful fals entente
Slouh all straungers that thoruh his kyngdaw wente.
For vnder a colour off liberalite,
To his paleis he gladli wolde calle 5224
Straungers echon that cam thoruh his contre,
And sollempneli receyue hem oon and alle,
And lich a kyng, bothe in chaumbre and halle
Make hem such cheer in alle maner thyng, 5228
As appertened onto a worthi kyng.
But whil his gestis lay a-nyht and sleep,
This fals[e] tiraunt, in ful cruel wise,
Moordred hem echon or thei toke* keep; 5232
And afftir that — this was eek his gise —
With ther blood to make a sacrefise
To lubiter, god off that contre.
Off hool entent to plese his deite, 5236
That in his kyngdam, on frutis & on greyn [p. 65]
The land tencrece bi gret[e] habundaunce,
Doun from heuene he wolde sende hem reyn.
This mene he made and this fals cheuysaunce, 5240
To moordre and slen he hadde so gret plesaunce;
For off alle thynge hym* thouhte it dede him* good
To slayen* straungers and to sheede ther blood.
But whan this moordre off Busiris was kouth,
That no straunger myht passe his lond in pes.
This manli knyht, yit flouryng in his youth.
This noble famous, this worthi Hercules,
Amonges other put hymsilff in pres.
And lich a gest outward in shewyng
Cam to the paleis off Busiris the kyng,
Hercules was
both a philoso-
pher and a
knight.
5244
5248
He slew
Busiris in
Egypt, who
treacherously
murdered his
guests
and offered up
their blood to
Jove, that he
might send rain
to his kingdom.
But Herculei
went to his
palace
5220. &] to B, J — in] in to J — ther the tirauwt] l)e geant
J, Hs.
5232. token B. 5236. hool] om. H.
5238. tencrece] encreased H 5, P.
5242. ofF] om. P — hym] he B — him] hem B.
5243. slayen] slen B — slayen straungers and to sheede] mur-
\>tre his gestis and shede J, H 5.
148
The Labours of Hercules
[byl.
and after rebuk- Rebukcd hvm ofF hls gtet outrage
ing him, killed _^ , / • , • 1 • 1
him and set DOOn tO hlS gCStlS Dl CFUCl VlOlenCC. 525a
gypt in ease, ^^j ^^^ ^^ make pcsiblc that passage,
And for to auenge his inportable offence,
And off his moordre to make recompence,
This Hercules slouh Busiris* in deede, 5256
And took the blood which he dede bleede,
OfFrid it vp lubiter to plese.
For this victorie hym to magnefie;
And al Egipt thus was set in ese: 5260
Ther lond, ther frutis gan also multeplie,
Ther greyn encrece a-boute on ech partie
And to habouwde bi influence ofi^ reyn,
Which aflPortyme off vitaile was bareyn. 5264
He also slew ^ Another geauwt callid Antheus,
Antsus, who rr T • I • i i i i i j
renewed his Kyng Oil LiDie, and gouerned al that iond,
time he touched Whom Hercules, most strong & coraious,
\YhJIom outraied [&] slouh hym with his bond; 5268
For as thei wrastlid, bexperience he fond,
Touchyng therthe this geaunt, it is trewe,
His force, his myht dede alwey renewe.
But whan Hercules the maner dede espie, 5272
How his strengthe renewed ageyn so ofFte,
Ther ageyns he shoop a remedie:
Hie in the hair he reised hym vp a-lofFte;
And with his armys, hard & nothyng soff'te, 5276
Bak and bonys so sore he dede enbrace.
That he fill ded toforn hym in the place.
But suwme bookis olF this geaunt telle,
Withynwe his kyngdam who dede hym assaile, 5280
He wolde off newe his cheualrie compelle
EfFt ageyn to meete hym in bataile;
And in this wise ful seelde he dede faile
TafForce off newe, as folk shal vndirstonde, 5284
His strengthe, his myht all enmyes to withstonde.
Some books
say that An-
taeus was in-
vincible in his
own kingdom,
and that Her- But Hetcules ofF hih discrecioun,
cules enticed ,_,, r ^ ^ i !•
him away from 1 he leeld on hym manli to recure,
thu8°defeated Hadde hym be sleihte out ofF his regiourt;
him.
5288
And as thei mette theer ofF auenture,
The said Antheus myht[e] nat endure,
5253. that] the H. 5256. Bisiris B. 5267. &] & most H.
5269. he]o7n. H. 5276. his] om. H.
BK. 0
The Labours of Hercules
149
Heroiles next
conquered and
slew Geryon of
Spain, who had
exfled all his
people;
and afterward*
he killed
Cerberus.
He also slew
the Cretan Bui 1
and the
Nemean Lion,
of whose skin
he made a
coat.
But was disconfited bi Hercules anon,
Maugre his myht, he and his men echon. 5292
^ AfFtir this conquest Hercules is gon.
For exercise his prowesse for to vse,
Ageyn the myhti stronge* Gerion,
Kyng oflF Spaigne, off Malliagre & Ebuse, 5296
The which[e] tirant myhte hym nat excuse,
That al his labour, as poetis do compile,
Was fro these rewmys his peeple* to exile.
His tirannye ne myht nat longe endure; 5300
For Hercules, the noble worthi knyht,
Made vpon hym a gret disconfiture,
And slouh the tirant as thei mette in fiht.
And afftir that, he, thoruh his grete myht, 5304
Off his prowesse and magnanymyte
Slouh Cerberus with his hedis thre.
^ The famous boole off the lond off Crete,
Which that destroied al that regioun, 5308
He slouh also whan thei dede meete;
And in Nemea he slouh a fers leoun.
And for a record off his hih renoun.
Off manli force his skyn away he took, 5312
And to his bodi a coote theroff he shoop:
To all his enmyes to shewe hym mor dreedful,
Therfore he werid that hidous gamement.
And for in armys he neuer was founde dull, 5316
But euer ilich[e] fressh in his entent,
Into a mounteyn he made anon his went,
Callid Erimantus; and ther in his passage
He slouh a boor, most wilde & most sauage, 5320
Beside a r^'uer callid Stiphalus, [p. 66]
Off furious birdis he slouh a gret[e] noumbre;
Withynne the kyngdam off kyng Fyneus
Al the contre for thei dede encoumbre: 5324
For with ther shadwe & outraious oumbre,
On seed or frutis whereuer thei aliht,
Al was deuoured in eueri manys siht.
9 Vpon the mounteyn callid Auent^Tie, 5328
Which is nat ferr fro Rome the cite,
Ther is a wode, as cronycles determyne,
5295. stronge] straunge B, strange H. 5296. Malliagre]] Baleares P.
5299. peeple] peeplis B, H. 531J. garment H. 5326. or frutis] on frute H.
the Eryman-
thian Boar,
the
Stymphalisa
Birds,
150 The Labours of Hercules [^bk. i
Riht fressh off siht and goodli on to see.
and Cacus And Hercules passyng bi that contre, 5332
Mt. Aventine, Fto Spayncward goyng be Ytaile,
Cachus the geaunt dede hym ther assaile.
Whil Hercules among the leues greene
Leide hym to slepe, off sodeyn auenture, 5336
who stole his _/\nd his beestis ageyn the sonne sheene,
cattle and hid __., .,111 • i
them in a cave, Whil that he slepte, wente m ther pasture,
Cam Cachus foorth, ful hidous off stature,
Thouhte he wolde these beestis with hym haue, 5340
Stal hem echon and hid hem in a caue.
dragging them And Hk a thecfF he made hem go bakward,
backwards by rr^. i i i i • rr ^ i
the tail, like a 1 hat no man sholde the tracis oit hem knowe,
Nor off ther passage haue no reward; 5344
For bi ther tailis he ladde hem on a rowe
Into his caue, which that stood ful lowe.
And for thei wern off excellent fairnesse,
To keepe hem cloos he dede his besynesse. 5348
Hercules heard Qut off his slep whatt Hetculcs awook
their lowing « i i i •
And aparceyued his oxes were away,
He roos hym up, and caste aboute his look,
Gan tespie in al the haste he may 5352
To what parti the tracis off hem lay.
And whil he stood thus musyng in the shade,
[He] herde lowyng that his oxes made.
and, finding the And bi thet lowyug he gan anon approche 5356
c7cus°a'^d"iew Toward the parti wher thei were kept ful cloos,
'^""' Fond the caue vndir a myhti roche;
And proude Cachus, which hadde hem in depoos,
Geyn Hercules he sturdili aroos: 5360
But for al that, he myht hymsilff nat* saue.
For he hym slouh at thentre off the caue.
He then cleared And thus his beestis he hath ageyn recurid,
Mt. Aventine of ,-,-,, rr • Ul ^
brigands. That sempte attorn irrecuperable. 5364
Afftir the mounteyn be force he hath assurid,
5332. that] the H, 5333- be] fro H.
5346. ful] so H.
5350. parceyued R, p<?rceived J — oxen H, P.
5351. hym ] OOT. R. 5352. Bigan to espie R.
5355. He] om. H — the lowyng P, H 5 — oxen P.
5360. Ayens R. 5361. myhtnat himsilfF B.
5364. inrecup^rable R. 5365. hath] hast H.
BK. l]
The Labours of Hercules
i^i
Which for brigantis afom was ful doutable;
But bi his manhod it was maad habitable,
That men myhte, for dreed off any fo, 5368
Whan euer thei wolde freli come or go.
9 Touchyng his conquest vpon Femynye,
Geyn Amazones with Theseus he wente,
The queen Ypolita thoruh his cheualrie, 5372
For his parti anon to hym he hente.
And Ypolita off ful trewe entente
Gaff onto hym in tokne off victorie
Off gold a girdil to haue hir in memorie. 5376
^ Afftir to Affrik he wente a ful gret pas,
Onli off purpos the gardeyn for to see,
Which appertened to [the] kyng Athlas,
That brothir was to kyng Promothe, 5380
In astrologie ful weel expert was he.
And in this gardeyn, off which I ha[ue] you told,
The riche brauwchis and applis were off gold,
Thoruh magik maad bi gret auisement, 5384
Ful streihtly* kept and closid enviroun.
And Iwachchid with a fell serpent.
That no man entred that riche mansioun.
But Hercules, most myhti off renoun, 5388
The serpent slouh throuh his manli pursuit.
And fro that gardeyn he bar awey the fruit.
This seid Athlas, as bookis specefie,
And poetis eek off hym endite, 5392
He was ful cunnyng in astronomic
And theryn dede ful gretli hym* delite;
And many a book he made & dede write
With gret labour and gret[e] dilligence 5396
In his tyme vpon that science.
The which[e] wern mor precious than gold.
And mor riche in his opynyoun.
But Hercules, in soth as it is told, 5400
5367. manhod] knyhthode R.
S37I. Ayens R.
5373. parti] pray R. 5376. hir] om. R.
5380. the kyng R, H, J.
5385. streihtly]streihteB, R, streietj, streite P. 5389. The]
Ther H.
5392. eek off hym] of hym also R. 5393. ful] om. R.
5394. hym ful gretli B. 5398. than] that R.
\Mien he went
to Feraynye,
Hippolyte
presented him
with her golden
girdle.
Afterwards, in
Africa, he slew
a serpent in
King Atlas'
garden and
fetched away
the Golden
Apples of the
Hespe rides.
Atlas was a
learned a«ron-
omer who
wrote many
valuable
books.
which Hercules
seized and
brought to
Greece.
152
The Labours of Hercules
[bk. I
In Thrace he
slew Diomedes,
who fed his
horses with
human flesh.
Gat alle the bookis thoruh his hih renouw,
Bar hem hi force out off that regloun;
And into Grece, lich a conquerour,
With hym he brouhte for a gret tresour. 5404
Off Trace he slouh the tirant outraious [p. 67]
That whilom was callid Diomede,
Which moordred al that cam in[to] his hous,
And with ther flessh his hors he dede feede. 5408
And thoruh his witt, labour and manheede,
Off Achelaus, which was a gret[e] wonder,
He made the stremys for to parte assonder;
And bi his wisdam dede hem so deuide, 5412
In too parties disseueryng his passage:
For tofortyme no man myhte abide
Off his cours the* furious fell outrage;
For in contrees it dede so gret damage, 5416
Turnyng vpward, ther was noon othir boote.
Where it flowed, off trees cropp and roote.
A gret emprise he dede eek vndirtake,
Whan that the [wor]mees, hidous & horrible, 5420
Aryued up off Archadie in the lake
Callid Lerne, the beestis ful odible,
Which with ther teeth & mouthes ful terrible
Frut, greyn and corn dede mortali deuoure; 5424
But Hercules, the contre to socoure.
Cam lik a knyht ther malice for to lette;
And bi his prudence destroied hem euerichon.
Withynwe the lake the wermys up he shette, 5428
Sauff among alle behynde was lefft on;
And ageyn hym this Hercules anon
Off knyhthod cauhte so gret auauntage,
That to the contre he dede no mor damage. 5432
No one ever Thus al that cuete may rehersed be
had more fame nr i 11.11 J
or excellence in Touchyng kuyhthod, prowcssc or prudence,
arms; Glorious fame or long felicite,
This knyhtli man hadde most excellence, 5436
And in armys lengest experience.
He parted the
Achelous,
which before
that time had
done great
damage.
He next slew
all but one of
the horrible
serpents of
Lake Lerna.
5405. tirant] Geauwt R. 5406. wliilom]] sumtyme R.
5411. departe R. 5415. the] and the B.
5420. wormeesi mees B, H, P, mes R, J, H S, wormees R 3.
5435. Glorious] by glorious H.
BK.
I]
Hercules and Deianeira
153
5444
5448
5452
For his tryumphes and actis marclall
Sette up pliers for a memoriall,
Which remembrid his conquestis most notable, 5440
And his deedis bi grauyng dede expresse —
Beyonde which no lond is habitable.
So ferr abrod spradde his hih noblesse.
But as the sonne lesith his brihtnesse
Sumwhile whan he is fresshest in his speer,
With onwar cloudis that sodenli appeer,
Semblabli the noblesse and the glory
Off Hercules in this onstable liff
Eclipsid was and shadwid his memory
Bi Deianira, that whilom was his wiff:
For bi hir fraude cam in the mortal striff,
As ye shal heere the maner and the cas,
Wherbi that he loste his liff, alias.
Yit for hir sake, this most manli man*
Fauht, as I fynde, a synguler bataile
With Achelous, sone off the occian,
Lik as poetis make rehersaile.
And as ech other proudli dede assaile.
This Hercules, off knyhthod souereyne.
Rente from his hed oon off his homys tweyne.
Off kyng Oene she was the doubter deere.
To Hercules ioyned in mariage;
And as thei cam to a gret ryuere
With sturdi wawes, wher was no passage,
Nessus, the geaunt, ougli off visage,
To Hercules profred his seruise,
And ful falsli ageyn hym gan deuise.
Made his promys to Hercules in deede.
To putte his liff in gret auenture,
Ouer the strem Deianire to leede,
Because he was large off his stature.
And for she was a riht fair creature.
Whan thei were passid and Icome to londe,
Nessus falsli wolde vpon the stronde
5443. his hih] is his H, his J, H 5.
5449. shadowde R. 5450. whilom] sumtyme R.
S4SI. the]owt. H, P, R 3. 5453. that] am. H.
S4S4- ^*" stanza is transposed with the next B, H.
S458. other] (wi.R, 5460. Rente] Sent R — homvs] armvs R.
5461. OemeR,J. 5462. in]bi R. 5467. ayens R.
5464
5468
5472
and as a mem-
oriaJ to his
martial deeds
he set up the
Pillars of
Gades.
Yet the glory
of Hercules was
tarnished by
the fraud
of his wife
Deianeira,
5456
5460
although he
fought Ache-
lous, son of the
ocean, for her
sake.
She was daugh-
ter of King
CEneus; and
once when she
and Hercules
came to a river,
the giant
Nessus ottered
to carry her
across.
but when they
arrived at the
other side, he
attempted her
virtue, and
Hercules
wounded him
mortally with
an arrow.
154 'Tb^ Death of Hercules [bk. i
Ha[ue] knowe hir flesshli, lik as writ Guide,
Hercules hauyng therofF a siht, 5476
As he abood vpon the tother side.
And for tauenge hym off his grete onriht,
Took his bowe and bente it anon riht,
And with an arwe, filid sharp & grounde, 5480
GafF to Nessus his dedli fatal wounde.
His last re- Lich a conduit gusshed out the blood,
quest was that »ii i iii !•
Deianeira give And whan he sauh that he muste deie,
his blood-stained nnr~»*"rri i i i
shirt to Her- 1 o Ueianite attorn tiym ther she stood, 5484
cu es. With al his herte hire he gan to preie.
That in o thyng his lust she wolde obeie,
To take his sherte, and be nat rech[e]les,
With blood disteyned, and sende it Hercules, 5488
so that he and Thcrwith to hym to be reconcilid. [p. 68]
she might be . , , , ,-' , , ,
reconciled. And shc the shette to riym anon tiath sent,
But when Her- rT-ii !» n i I'l'ii
cuies put it on 1 hotuh whos venym, alias, tie was begiiid !
terrMy^ ^"" ^° Fof what be touchyng, & what benchauwtement, 5492
His flessh, his bonys furiousli were brent,
And among his dedli peynes alle,
Into a rage he sodenli is falle.
that he ran [And] as 3 beeste furiousli he ran 5496
about like a^^, .,.,,. . .
madman, up- (Jn valis, hillis among the craggi stonys,
broke the"^' SemblabH as doth a wood[e] man,
and"gn°awed"'' PulHd up ttccs & rootis al attonys,
thus came' fo"*^ Btak beestis hornys, & al tognew ther bonys. 5500
his end. Was it nat pite that a knyht so good
Sholde among beestis renne sauagyne & wood!
It was all be- Thus ouerwhelmyd was al his worthynesse,
cause he aiii i* *
trusted in And to declyn wente his prosperite. 5504
rh°aTcouragr' And cause & roote off al his wrechidnesse,
donXrn'inr" Was for that he sette his felicite
and philosophy ^Q ttustc SO mochc the mutabilite
should have
been darkened Off these women, which erli, late & soone 5508
by their sleight! i • j i
Ott ther nature braide vpon the moone.
5475. lik] om. H. 5481. fatall dedly H. 5482. guysshed R.
5483. sauh] sije J. 5484. to forn R.
5485. gan] began R, bigan J, biganne H 5 — to] om. J.
5493. were] was R, H. 5496. And]o7n.H.
5497. On] In H — valeis R, valeys P, valeies H 5.
5502. sauagyne] sauage R, J, R 3, P, H 5.
5503. was] as R. 5505. al] om. R. 5506. his] al his R.
5508. late] om. R.
BK. l]
Tbf Envoy to Hercules
155
Alias, alias! al noblesse & prudence,
Prowesse off armys, force & cheualrie,
Forsihte off wisdam, discrecioun & science, 5512
Vertuous studie, profityng in clergie,
And the deer shynyng off philosophie,
Hath thoruh fals lustis been heerafom manacid,
Be sleihte off women dirkid and diiFacid! 5516
O Hercules, my penne I feele quake,
Myn ynke fulfillid ofF bittir teris sake,
Thi[s] pitous tragedie to write for thi sake,
Whom alle poetis glorefie and exalte; 5520
But fraude off women made thi renoun halte,
And froward muses thi tryuwphes al toreende,
For to descryue, alias, thi fatal eende.
Hercules, my
pen trembles,
my ink is
filled with
bitter tears
when I write
your history.
5524
.v=;28
[Lenvoye.]
THE soote venym, the sauouri fals poisoun.
The dreedful ioie, the dolerous plesaunce.
The woful gladnesse, with furious resouw,
Feith disespeired, ay stable in variaunce,
Vertu exilyng, where lust hath gouemaurzce,
Thoruh fals luxurie difFacen al noblesse.
As this tragedie can here ful weel witnesse.
Wher froward Venus hath dominacioun,
And biynde Cupide his subiectis doth auaunce.
And wilful lust thoruh indiscrecioun
Is chose iuge to holden the ballaunce,
Ther chois onlefFul hath thoruh onhappi chaunce
Dirked off pryncis the famous hih prowesse.
As this tragedie can here ful weel witnesse.
O thou Hercules, for al thyn hih renoun.
For al thi conquest and knyhtli suflSsaunce,
Thou* were thoruh women brouht to confusioun 5540
And thoruh ther fraude thi renom?ned puissaunce
Disclaundred was and brouht onto myschaunce.
5511. armys] nature R.
SS 14. off] of al R. 5515. lust H — her afor be R.
SSi7-0]om. R. 5518. ofr]witi7R. 5519. This] Thi H.
5521. But] by H.
5526. The] om. R — witi] the R, J, H 5 — resoun] tresoun H.
5527. dispeired R.
5535. chois] chose R. 5536. prowesse] noblesse R.
5538. thyn] thy H.
5540. Thou were] Thouh thou were B, Thoruh werre R.
5532
36
TTiis tragedy
bears witness
to the ruin
wrought by
licentiousQess.
Where Venus
and Cupid rule,
the fame of
princes is dark-
ened.
Hercules, I am
ashamed to say
that, for all
your high re-
nown, you were
brought to
confusion by
women.
156 Narcissus, Byblis and Myrrha [|bk. i
I were ashamed to write it or expresse,
Except this tragedie can here me weel witnesse. 5544
Eihe'^l^'rcercsT Pfyncis, Pryncessis, off hih discrecioun
temputioi"^" '^^^^ t^»yng enprentith in your remembraunce;
Off othres fallyng make your proteccioun,
You to preserue thoruh prudent purueiaunce; 5548
AfForn prouyded, that your perseueraunce
Be nat perturbid bi no fals sorceresse.
As this tragedie off other berth witnesse.
[A processe, of Narcisus, Biblis, Mirra and of othir
ther onforttinys to Bochas compleynyng.] ^
Bybiifand 'VfARCISUS, Bibh's & Mirra, alle thre 5552
Myrrha declare -i- ^ Tofor BochflJ dcde pitOUsH appCetC,
their unhappi- »-r^i . /- i . ~ ,. .
ness to Bochas. 1 her miortunyes, ther mrelicite
To hym compleynyng with a dedli cheere.
And off ther comyng to telle the manere, 5556
Narcisus first, with sorwe & dool atteynt,
Gan first off alle declaren his compleynt.
Narcissus, son He was [the] sonc off Cephesus* the flood,
of Cephissus . 1 1 • 1 11- 1 T • •
and Liriope. And his mooder caliid Liriope, 5560
Jende Wo^d And bi discent born off gentil blood,
of Mlatures'"^ Off cteatutes fairest on to see;
And, as I fynde, at his natyuite
Tiresias,* be sperit off prophesie, 5564
Touchyng his fate thus gan specefie:
Tiresias fore- The goddis han prouydid hym a space
told that his „, , ^ . i i i i
life would end lo lyue m erthc, and so ionge endure
beheld his own Til that he knowe & see his owne face; 5568
many^rVri^^ And for his sakc ful many creature,
would love him gj ordynauwcc off God and off Nature,
in vain, lor no -^ , '
woman was Whan thei hym seen shal feelyn ful gret peyne,
beautiful ,..,•' ,. -^ *= r J ^
enough to pieascYirr thci m louc his grace may nat atteyne. 5572
him.
5543. it3 om. R — to expr(?sse R. 5544- me^ full H.
5546. enprinted R. 5SSO. soceresse R.
5551. berth] berls H. 5553. lohn Bochas H. 5558. Bigan R.
5559. 1st the] om. H — Cephesus] Thephesus B, H, R 3 —
off] to H.
5560. lynope R. 5564. Thiresias B.
5565. MSS. R, J, H 5 transpose lines 5846-73 and the Envoy
(5873-5901) mi^ /ini?j- 5566-5845.
,5566. Opposite this stanza the following rubric in MS.]: Ouidius
X°. et XI°. de transformatis. 5566. for hym R.
1 MS. J. leaf 29 recto.
BK. I^
The Story of Narcissus
^S7
But he shal be contrarie* & daungerous, [p. 69]
And off his port ful off straungenesse,
And in his herte [riht] inli surquedous,
Bi thoccasioun off his natif faimesse; 5576
And, presumyng ofF his semlynesse,
Shal thynke no woman so fresh nor fair of face,
That able were to stonden in his grace.
And for thexcellence off his gret beute, 5580
He hym purposid in his tendre age,
Neuer in his lifF weddid for to be —
He thouhte hymsilfF so fair off his visage.
For which he cast hym, throuh his gret outrage, 5584
Ageyn all lustis off loue to disdeyne,
To hunte at beestis alone and be soleyne.
And in this while that he kepte hym so
In forestis and in wildimesse, 5588
A water goddesse, that callid was Echcho,
Loued hym ful hoote for his gret faimesse;
And secreli dede hir besynesse
To folwe his steppis riht as any lyne, 5592
To hir desirs to make hym to enclyne.
He herde hir weel, but he sauh hir nouht,
WherofF astonyd, he gan anon tenquere,
As he that was amerueilid in his thouht, 5596
Saide euene thus, " is any wiht now heere ?"
And she ansuerde the same, in hir manere,
What-euer he saide, as longeth to Echcho,
Withoute abod she seide the same also. 5600
" Come neer," quod he, and began to calle.
" Come ner," quod she, " my ioie & my plesaunce."
He lokid aboute [among] the rokkis alle
And sauh nothyng beside nor in distaunce; 5604
But she abraide, declaryng hir greuaunce.
And to hym seide, " myn owyn herte deere,
Ne be nat straunge, but late us duelle ifeere."
And so it
turned out.
Early in life
he thought
himself
too handsome
to marry and
became a
hunter.
But a water-
nymph named
Eicho, attracted
by his great
beauty,
followed
him, calling.
Yet he saw no
one; and
whatever he
said, the
answered
in the same
words.
" My own dear
heart, let us
dwell
together."
5573. contraire B.
5577, semblenesse R. 5578. Shal th\-nke] om. R.
5581. purposid hym R. 5582. for] om. H.
5583. his] om. R. 5586. soleyne] slayne R.
5591. secreli] sikyrly R. 5593. Inclyne R.
5595. began R. 5600. also] hyjn to R.
5603. the]thesR.
5605. & declaryng R. 5607. but] om. H.
IS8
Narcissus and Echo
[bk. I
"NO'"„^e^re- " Nay, nay," quod he, " I will nothyng obeie 5608
rather die, go To youF dcsirs, foF short conclusioun;
s^eak to me " FoF Icucre I haddc pleynli for to deie,
any more. Xhan ye sholde haue off me possessioun;
We be nothyng off on opynyouw, 5612
I heere you weel, thouh I no figure see,
Goth foorth your way & spek no mor to me!"
Ashamed, she And she ashamcd fledde hir way anon,
hid herself in a . , , , „ , -' ,
cave. Since As shc that myhte ott hym no socour haue. 5616
that time men y> ^» •ii*t^ii * r 1
have heard her Dut disespeired, this iLchcho IS lootth gon
has'^never been And hiddc hitsilfF in an ougli caue
seen. Among the rokkis, as beried in hir graue.
And thouh so be that men hir vois may heere, 5620
Afftir that tyme she neuer dede appeere.
And thus Narcisus thoruh daunger and disdeyn
Vpon this lady dede crueli vengauwce.
^kV with'^"^ But whan the goddis his cruelte han seyn, 5624
Towardis hym thei fill in gret greuauwce,
Off his vnmerci thei hadden displesauwce;
And riht as he merciles was fouwde.
So with onmerci he cauhte his dedli wouwde. 5628
For al dauwger displesith to Venus,
And al disdeyn is lothsum to Cupide:
For who to loue is contrarious.
The God of Loue will quite hym on sum side, 5632
His dreedful arwis so mortali deuyde
To hurte & mayme alle that* be rech[e]les,
And in his seruise fouwde* merciles.
And for Narcisus was nat merciable 5636
Toward Echcho, for his gret beute.
But in his port was fouwden ontretable,
Cupide thouhte he wolde auengid be,
As he that herde hir praier off pite, 5640
Causyng Narcisus to feele & haue his part
Off Venus brond and off hir firi dart.
angry with
Narcissus for
his cruelty to
Echo,
and as he was
so disdainful
they resolved
to punish him.
5614. &P ye R — to3 ffhh R.
5617. dispeired R. 5619. as] and R.
5621. dede] durst R
5622. Rubric in J, leaf 29 d: "How Narcisus, Biblis, and Mirra,
deied atte mischefF." Misplaced owing to transposition of
stanzas.
5623. this] the R. 5624. had R. 5634. that] tho B.
5635. be founde B.
BK. l]
The End of Narcissus
159
And on a day whan he in wildimesse
Hadde afftir beestis ronne on huntyng, 5644
And for long labour gan falle in werynesse,
He was desirous to ha[ue] sum refresshyng;
And wonder thrustleuh afFtir trauailyng,
Miht nat endure lengere ther to duelle; 5648
And atte laste he fond a cristal welle,
Riht fressh spryngyng & wonder agreable,
The watir lusti and delectable ofFsiht:
And for his thrust was to hym inportable, 5652
Vpon the brynkis he fill doun anon riht,
And be reflexioun, myd off the watir briht
Hym thouhte he sauh a passyng fair ymage
To hym appeere, most aungelik off visage. 5656
He was enamoured with the semlynesse, [p. 70]
And desirous theroff to stonde* in grace;
And yit it was nat but a likenesse,*
And but a shadwe reflectyng off his face, 5660
The which off feruence amerousli tenbrace,
This Narcisus with a pitous compleynt
Sterte into the welle & hymseluen dreynt.
And thus his beute, alias, was leid ful lowe, 5664
His semlynesse put ful ferre a-bak;
Thus whan that he gan first hymsilff to knowe
And seen his visage, in which ther was no lak.
Presumptuous pride causid al to gon to wrak: 5668
For who to moch doth off hymsilff presume,
His owne vsurpyng will sonest hyw consume.
And fynali, as poetis telle,
This Narcisus, withoute mor socour, 5672
Afftir that he was drowned atte welle.
The heuenli goddis dede hym this fauour,
Thei turned hym into a fressh[e] flour,
5644. ronne on] runen in R. 5646. sum]] otn. R.
5647. wonder] om. P, R 3 — thrustleuh] theugh seluth R 3.
5651. delitable R. 5652. importable R, H.
5654. myd] in myddis R.
5657. with] for H, R 3 — sembl>Tiesse R.
5658. to stonde therofF B. 5659. likenesse] liklynesse B.
5663. hymseluen dreynt] hym siliF he dreynt R, hym siliF
dreynt H, so himsilf he dreynt J. 5664. ful] om. H.
5668. to gon] go R.
5671. as] as thes olde R, as bese oolde H, as these P, as theis
olde H s.
5675. a] a ful R.
One day,
wearied by the
chase and very
thirsty, he
found a spring,
and seeing a
most angelic
image redected
in the still
tried to em-
brace it in his
arms and fell
in and was
drowned.
That was the
end of Narci»-
sus's beauty.
Presumptuous
pride caused
his fall.
After his death
the gods
turned him
into a water
lily; and books
say that it is a
good remedy
for sudden
fevers.
l6o The Fate of Byblis [bk. i
A watir-lelle, which doth remedie 5676
In hote accessis, as bookis specefie.
Byblis appeared A FFTIR Nafcisus was at the well[e] dreynt,
with 'her brother -tjL And to lohn Boch^j" declared hadd his wo,
Biblis appered, with teris al bespreynt, 5680
And toward hym a gret pas she gan go;
And hir brother Caunus* cam also,
And off o wombe as gemellis tweyne;
But she toforn hir fate gan compleyne. 5684
whom she loved She in hir loue was nat vertuous,
against nature ^ /-^ t i t;^ t i
and law. hox ageyn (jod and Kyndis ordynaunce,
She loued hir brother that callid was Caunus;*
And whan he sauh hir froward gouernauwce, 5688
listen °to her°^ He outo hire gafF non attend aunce,
Thouh she off sleihte tacowplisshe hir entent,
In secre wise a pistil to hym sent.
although she She seide it was an inpossible thyng 5692
wrote him a ..^y. , , • i • i r
letter saying Withoute his gtace hirselueu tor to saue,
die uniess'he [And] but he wete to hire assentyng,
assented. gj^^ g||jg pjeynli may non helthe haue
But onli deth, and afFtirward hir graue. 5696
Thus in hir writyng, to hym she dede attame;
And to be couert she ne wrot no name.
He paid no But whan this pistil cam to his presence,
attention toit, ,, i-i i ^• ^
and Byblis Vertuousli thetat he gan disdeyne, 5700
siSntly ^hat Aud gafF thetto no maner aduertence,
finaify'llrned Not took non heed ofF hir furious peyne,
foun't'lb.' ^"^ sulFred hir eternali to pleyne
Til that she was, as Guide can weel telle, 5704
With ofFte wepyngis transformed to a welle.
Myrrhaun- "V TEXT Cam Mirra with face ful pitous,
naturally loved ' ^ i "^ '
Cinyras, and
N
her father X ^ Which that whilom loued ageyn nature
Hir owne fadir callid Cinarus, 5708
5676. lelie] like R {corrected in later hand to lilie).
5678. AfFtir Jjat H. 5679. hadd] om. R.
5682. Cannus B, Canus R, Cammus H, Cannus J, Caunus P.
5687. Cannus B — callid was] om. J.
5688. he] she R — gouernaunce] greuaunce R.
5691. secre] sikir R. 5700. therat he gan] began ther at R.
5702. Nor] Neither R, J, om. H — non] nouthir noon H,
5705. wepyng R. 5707. whilom] sum tyme R.
BK. l]
The Story of Myrrh a
i6i
For whos sake gret peyne she dede endure.
But she ne durste hir sorwe nat discure,
Til hIr norice be signes dede espie
The hertll constreynt off hir maladie. 5712
For hir norice, off which that I ha[ue] told,
Conceyued hath, bi open euidence,
As she that koude bothe off newe and old
In such materis al hool thexperience, 5716
That thoruh long labour & sleihti diligence,
Dyuers meenes & weies out she souhte,
To hir fadres bed that she Mirra brouhte.
With whom she hadde hir lust & hir plesaunce; 5720
For she onknowe lay with hym al nyht:
He was deceyued bi drunkleuh ignoraunce,
And on the morwe, longe or any liht.
She stal awey and went out off his siht. 5724
With hir norice kepte hir longe cloos,
Til onto tyme that hir wombe aroos.
But hir fadir, that was off Cipre kyng,
Which, as I tolde, was callid Cinarus, 5728
Whan he the trouthe espied off this thyng:
That bi his doubter he was deceyued thus.
She wex to hym lothsum and odious,
Fledde from his face, so sore she was afferd, 5732
And he pursued afftir with his suerd.
In Arabic, the hoote myhti lond,
Kyng Cinarus hath his doubter founde,
And crueli he gan enhaunse his bond, 5736
With his suerd tayouen hir a wounde;
But the goddis, off merci most habounde,
Han fro the deth[e] maad hire [to] go fre.
And thoruh ther power transfowrmed to a tre. 5740
Whiche afftir hire berith yit the name, [p. 71]
Callid Mirra, as she was in hir liff.
Out off which, as auctours sey the same,
Distillith a gomwe, a gret preseruatiff, 5744
And off nature a ful good defensiff,
5710. But] For R. 571 1, hir] his R.
5718. weyes and meenes R. 5722. dronklee R 3.
5725. hir longe] hir silfF H. 5726. the tyme R, H.
5734. Arabia H. 5736. he gan] bigan R.
5737. tayouen] to yiffen R — his] hir H.
5738. oflTjoOT. R. 5743. as] om. R.
her nurse so
contrived that
she accom-
plished her
desire.
deceiving him
when drunk.
But as she
became preg-
nant, her
father found it
out and was so
angry that he
chased her all
the way to
Arabia, and
would have
slain her had
not the gods
transformed
her mto a tree.
from which we
obtain myrrh,
that is very
useful for keep-
ing dead bodies
from cor-
rupting.
l62
Myrrhas Son Adonis
[bk. I
Myrrh is en-
gendered by
the sunbeams.
Venus fell in
love with him,
To keepe bodies from putrefacciou7i
And hem frauwchise from al corrupcioun.
Bi influence off the sonne-bemys 5748
Mirre is engendrid, distillyng off his kynde
With rounde dropis ageyn[es] Phebus stremys,
And doun descendith thoruh the harde rynde.
And thoruh the rifftis, also as I fynde, 5752
The said[e] Mirra hath a child foorth brouht,
In al this world, that yifF it be weel souht,
Myrrha's child Was non SO faitfe] fourmed bi nature;
was called .— „... . .
Adonis, and i^ ot ott his beute he was pereles. 5756
And as poetis recorden bi scripture,
He callid was the faire Adonydes;
And to his worshep and his gret encres —
For he off fairnesse bar awei the flour — 5760
Venus hym ches to been hir paramour.
The which[e] goddesse gaflF to hym in charge,
That he sholde in his tendre age,
In forestis whil he wente at large, 5764
Hunte at no beestis which that were sauage;
But he contrary, to his disauauwtage,
Thoruh wilfulnesse — I can sey you* no mor —
Was slayn onwarli oflf a tusshi bor, 5768
At the whiche he felli dede enchace.
But off foli in veyn was his labour;
For he lay slayn, ful pale off^ cheer & face.
Whom Venus turned to a ful fressh[e] flour 5772
Which was as blood, lich purpil off^ colour,
A budde off gold with goodli leuys glade
Set in the myddis, whos beute may nat fade.
and told him
not to hunt
beasts that
were savage.
But he paid
no attention to
her, and was
killed by a
wild boar.
whereupon
Venus turned
him iuto a
crimson flower.
AND wha« [that] Mirra fro Bochas was
withdrawe.
After Myrrha
had withdrawn
herself, Or-
ma'n.'appeared. And hadde decland hir gret aduersite.
And off hir fate told the mortal lawe.
Cam Orpheus, ful ougli on to see,
Sone off Appollo and off Calliope,
5776
5780
5764. at large^ alarge R. 5767. you sey B.
5768. tusshi] tuskye R.
5773. as] a R — lich] of R, J — ofF] the R, \,e J.
5778. hir] his R.
BK. l]
Orpheus and Eurydice
163
And appered with a ful doolful face.
Whilom brouht foorth and ibom in Trace.
Ful renommed in armys and science,
Famous in musik and in melodie, 5784
And ful notable also in eloquence.
And for his soote sugred armonie,
Beestis, foulis, poetis specefie,
Wodes, flodes off ther cours most strong, 5788
Stynt of* ther cours to herkne his soote song.
An harpe he hadde off Mercurius,
With the which Erudice he wan;
And to Bachus*, as writ Ouidius, 5792
Sacrifises ful solempne he began,
And onto helle for his wifF he ran,
Hir to recure with soote touchis sharpe
Which that he made vpon his heuenli harpe. 5796
But whan that he this labour on hym took,
A lawe was maad[e] which that bond hym sore,
That yifF that he bakward caste his look.
He sholde hire lese & seen his wifF no more: 5800
But it is seid[e] sithen gon ful yore,
Ther may no lawe louers weel constreyne,
So inportable is ther dedli peyne.
Yiff summe husbondis hadde stonden in the cas 5804
Ta* lost her wyues for a look sodeyne,
Thei wolde ha[ue] sufFred and nat seid alias,
But pacientli endured al ther peyne,
And thanked God, that broken was the cheyne 5808
Which hath so longe hem* in prisoun bounde.
That thei be grace han such a fredam founde.
To lyn in prisoun, it is a ful gret charge.
And to be stokked vndir keie and lok; 5812
It were weel meriere a man to gon at large,
He was famous
for his music
and eloquince.
Even the rivers
ceased to now
when he sang.
Mercuo' gave
him a harp,
with which he
won Eurj-dice
back from hell.
He was not to
look behind,
else he would
lose her.
But I think
there are some
husbands who,
if a sudden
look had lost
them their
wives,
would have
put up with it
very patiently
and thanked
God.
It is much
more pleasant
to be free
than nailed to
a block.
5781. appered] appeere H — ful] om. R.
5782. Whilom] Some tyme R. 5783. and] & in R, J, H 5.
5789. Stynt of] Styntid B — ther] om. H 5. 5790. herpe H.
5792. Bachus] bochas B, R 3.
5793. ful solempne] solenne R.
5799. bakkard R. 5803. Importable H.
5805. Ta] To ha B — in MS. J. opposite this stanza in a laUr
band: " a trew saying."
5807. ther] the R. 5809. hem so longe B.
581 1, lyn] ligge R, Hue P. 5812. be] ly H.
5813. meriere] myrie R, merie J, mery H 5.
164
Orpheus^ Advice to Husbands
[bk. I
However, Or-
pheus loved
Eurydice, and,
after all, lost
her,
and never
married again.
He got off
very easily. A
man who once
escapes the
snare isn't apt
to go back to
it.
Than with Irenes be nailed to a blok:
And there is o bond, which calHd is wedlok,
Fretyng husbondis so sore, that it is wonder, 5816
Which with no file may nat be broke assonder.
But Orpheus, fadir off armonye,
Thouhte Erudice, which was his wiff, so fair,
For hir sake he felte he muste deie, 5820
Because that he, whan* he made his repair.
Off hir [in] trouthe enbracid nothyng but hair.
Thus he lost hire, there is no mor to seyne;
And for the constreynt ofF his greuous peyne, 5824
At his herte hir partyng sat so sore, [p. 72]
The greene memorie*, the tendre remembrauwce,
That he neuer wolde wyuen more.
So faire he was escapid his penauwce; 5828
For wedlok is a lifF off most plesaunce.
But who hath onys infernal peynys seyn,
Will neuer his thankis come in the snare ageyn.^
Orpheus gave
very important
advice to hus-
bands; he said
that if one hell
This Orpheus gaff couwseil ful notable
To husbondis that han endurid peyne.
To such as been prudent and tretable:
wor«'!' ^''° "^ Oon hell is dreedful, mor pereilous be tweyne;
And who is onys bouwdyn in a cheyne.
And may escapen out off dauwger blyue —
Yiff he resorte, God let hym neuer thryue!
But women
were not
edified by
these words, and
so they slew
him at the
festival of
Bacchus.
On this sentence women wer vengable.
And to his writyng ful contrarious,
Seide his couwseil was nat comendable.
At the feste thei halwed to Bachus,
Thei fill echon vpon tRis Orpheus;
And, for alle his rethoriques suete,
Thei slouh, alias, this laureat poete.
5832
5836
5840
5844
5814. Irnes R — to] OOT. R. 5815. And] But R, J, H 5.
5816. Fretyng] Fetteryng R.
5817. no]aR, J, Hs, P — nat]oOT. R3.
5820. he felte] felte that R.
5821. that he whan] whan that B.
5822. in] om. R — no thyng enbracid R.
5826. memoire B. 5830. peyn R.
5835. mor] & more R.
5839. On] Vpon R. 5844. rethorik R.
^ MS. J. leaf 30 verso, in red in margin:
secundas spreuit nupcias."
"Ob quam c3.m
BK. l]
Marpessa and Lampedo
l6!
5848
.=58^2
And off his harpe yiff ye list to lere,
The god Appollo maad a translacioun
Among the ymages off the sterns cleere,
WTieroff men* may haue yit inspeccioun.
But Fortune, to his confusioun,
Denyed hym, froward off hir nature,
Whan he was slajm fredam off sepulture.
NEXT Orpheus, ther dede appeere also
Off Amazones worthi queenys tweyne,
Marpesia and hir suster Lampedo,
Which in conquest dede ther besi peyne.
And gret worship in armys dede atteyne,
Namyng hemsilff, be writyng nyh and ferr,
Douhtren to Mars, which is the God off Werr.
Marpesia rood out in regiouns
And conquered ful many a gret cite.
For couetise off gret possessiouns,
Tencrece hir lordshepe, yiff it wolde be.
And hir suster kepte surli ther contre
From alle enmyes, that ther was no doute,
Whil Marpesia rood with hir host aboute.
But whil she was in conquest most famous
And hir enmyes proudli dede assaile.
Fortune anon wex contrarious.
And causid she was slay[e]n in bataile.
Loo, what conquest or victory may auaile.
Whan that Fortune doth at hem disdeyne;
Seeth heer exaumple bi these queenys tweyne.
^ Lenvoye.
THIS tragedie reme^wbrith thynges fyue:
Off Narcisus thexcellent beute.
And off Biblis doth also descryue
The grete luxur[y]e and dishoneste,
Mirra diffamed, turned to a tre,
5846. OpposiU this stanza the follotoing rubric in MS. J. leaf
29 b. margin: "Ouidius X°. et XJ°. de transformitis."
5846. lere] here R, J. 5847. god] god of R.
5849. men] man B, H — yit] clere J, H 5 — haue yit] vitte
have cleer R.
5863. lordshippis H. 5865. From] Off R — that] so bat R.
5871. what] om. R. 5876. doth] deth R.
5877. luxurye] luxuride R,
You can see
his harp in the
sky, for ApoUo
translated it to
the stars.
Two queens of
the Amazons
followed Or-
pheus,
Marpessa and
Lampedo.
.8.^6
5860
5864
Marpessa wa«
slain in battle,
cg5g a common fate
■^ of conquerors.
5872
5876
These
tragedies shew
that licentious-
ness and pri Je
are very far
removed from
virtue.
1 66
Priam of Troy and Troy Book
Cbk.
Orpheus' life
was of mingled
joy and ad-
versity.
Texemplefie that lecherie and pride
Been from al vertu set ful ferr a-side.
How Orpheus endured in his lyue
loie entirmedlid with aduersite;
In his youthe whan he dede wyue
He felte in wedlok ful gret feHcite,
His woridli blisse meynt with duplicite,
As Fortune hir chaungis gan deuyde,
Which from al vertu be set ful ferr a-side.
Marpessa made Marpcsia, for hir list to stryue
war wantonly _... , ..^ , . "^ , .
and came to a With wiliul wems tencrecen hir contre,
sudden end. t» i • 111
but hir pompe was ouerturned biyue,
Whan in bataile vnwarli slayn was she:
For off al werre deth is the fyn parde,
So furious Mars can for his folk prouide,
Which from al vertu is set ful ferr a-side.
5880
5884
Princes, flee
pride and lust,
and do not be
guided by
avarice. Such
things are set
far aside
from virtue.
Ye myhti Pryncis, lat wit and resouw dryue
Your hih noblesse to considre and see
How Fortune estatis can depryue
And plunge hem down from ther prosperite.
Pride and luxure, I couwsaile, that ye fle,
Fals auarice ne lat nat be your guide,
Which from al vertu is set ful ferr a-side.
5892
5896
S900
After this,
Bochas began
to think of
Priam,
[Off Priamus kyng of Troye, and how the monke of
Bury translatour of this book wroot a boke of
the siege of Troye callid Troye book.] ^
AFFTIR these compleyntis & lamentaciouns,
Which [that] Bochas dede in his book compile,
Medlid among with transformaciouns 5904
Set in Ouide be ful souereyn stile.
Whan he on hem hadde musid a long while,
Seyn the* maner bothe off ther sorwe & ioie,
He gan remembre on Priamus off Troie. 5908
5889. hir] his H.
5894. v<rrtues R.
5895. This stanza is omitted in R. 5899. luxurye H.
5904. transmutaciouns R.
5907. the] ther B — of ther] the R, H.
5908. to remembre R — on] of R, H.
'MS. J. leaf 31 recto.
BK. l]
Priam and the Troy Book
167
First off" his berthe and off* his kenreede, [p. 73]
How among k3mges he was most famous;
And as poetis recorde off" hym in deede,
He descendid of worthi Dardanus, 5912
Which, as his lyne declareth onto vs,
From lubiter was lyneaH come doun
Onto his fader caUid kyng Lamedoun.
Off" olde Troie this Lamedoun was kyng; 5916
Destroied hi Grekis he and his contre.
Afftir whom, [this] Priamus regnyng,
Made there ageyn a myhti strong cite,
Where he ful longe in ful gret rialte, 5920
With wiff^ and childre, most worthi of renoun,
With sceptre & crowne heeld possessioun.
Gouemed his cite in pes and rihtwisnesse.
And Fortune was to hym fauourable; 5924
For off" al Asie the tresour and richesse
He dede assemble, this kyng most honourable.
And in armys he was so comendable,
That thoruh the world as ferr as men may gon, 592S
Off" hih noblesse the renoun off" hym shon.
This Priamus hadde childre many 00^
Worthi pryncis, & ofi^ ful gret myht;
Bat Ector was among hem euerichon 5932
Callid ofi^ prowesse the lanteme & the lyht;
For ther was neuer bom a bettir knyht.
Troilus in knyhthod so manli eek was founde,
That he was named Ector the secouwde. 5936
But yiff" I shulde reherse the manheede
Ofi^ kyng Priam & off" his sonys all.
And how his cite besieged* was in deede.
And al the story to remembraunce call, 5940
Tween hym & Grekis how it is befall,
The circumstaunces rehersjmg vp & doun,
To sette in ordre the firste occasioun
Off^ the siege, whi it was first laid 5944
Bi Hercules and also bi lason, —
The maner hool in Troie Book is said,
5912, Dardanus] Dacianus R, Damamus J, H 5.
5918. this] om. H, R3.
5921. wiff] his wiff R. 5922. heeld] heeld the R.
5924. hym] om. R. 5925. all of R. 5933. & the] of R.
S93S. eek] om. R. 5939. besegied B. 5941. Betwene R.
who was a
•descendant of
Dardanus
and Jupiter
through his
father
Laomedon.
He ruled in
I>eace and
righteousness
and had many
children, of
whom Hector
and Troflus
were the best
knights.
But there is no
need of my
telling you his
story here.
for I have
already told it
as well as I
could in the
Troy Book,
1 68
King Henry V and the Troy Book
[bk. I
which I trans-
lated
for King Henry
the Fifth, who
was a very
great man,
chief defender
of the church,
an enemy of
the Lollards,
and diligent to
bring
peace to Eng-
land and
France.
Alas, he died
too soon!
May God give
his soul good
rest with holy
saints in
heaven!
Reudli endited ofF my translacioun,
Folwyng vpon the destruccloun 5948
Callid the seconde, which, hi acountis cleer,
Fulll endured the space ofF ten yeer, —
For, as me semeth, the labour were in veyn.
Treuli also I not to what entent, 5952
That I shold[e] write it newe ageyn;
For I hadde onys in comauwdement,
Bi hym that was most noble & excellent
OfF kynges all[e], for to vndirtake 5956
It to translate and write it for his sake.
And yifF ye list to wetyn whom I meene,
Henry the FifFte, most myhti ofF puissauwce,
GafF me the charge ofF entent most cleene, 5960
Thyng ofF old tyme to putte in remembraunce.
The same Henry, for knyhtli suffisaunce,
Worthi for* manhod, reknyd kynges all,
With nyne worthi for to haue a stall. 5964
To hooli chirch he was chiefF defensour;
In alle such causes Cristes chosen knyht.
To stroie Lollardis he sette al his labour,
Loued alle vertues, and to sustene riht, 5968
Thoruh his noblesse, his manhod & his myht,
Was dilligent & dede his besi peyne
To ha[ue] set pes atween[e] rewmys tweyne, — •
I meene, in sooth, twen Ing[e]land & Fraunce, 5972
His purpos was taue had a pes fynall,
Souhte out menys with many circuwstauwce,
As weel be trete as actis marciall,
Theron iupartid goodis, lifF and all. 5976
But, o alias, ageyn deth is no boone!
This lond may seyn he deied al to soone.
For a-mong kynges he was oon the beste,
So alle his deedis conueied were with grace. 5980
I pray to God, so yiue his soule good teste,
With hooli seyntis in heuene a duellyng-place.
For heere with vs to litil was the space
5954. MS. J: "the monke of Bury," rubricated in margin,
leaf 31 b.
5959, 62. Herry R, H.
5963. for] off B — reknyd] rekene R, J, reken H 5, P.
5967. stroie Lollardis] destrye heritykes R. 5975. be] om. R.
5976. liff goodis R. 5981. so] to R, R 3, om. H.
BK. l]
The Story of Troy
169
That he abood; off whom the remembraunce
Shal neuer deie in Ingland nor in Fraunce.
This worthi kyng gaff to me in charge,
In Inglissh tunge make a translacioun
Out off Latyn, withynne a volum large,
How longe the Grekis lay afor the touw.
And how that Paris first at Citheroun
In Venus temple slili dede his peyne
Ther to rauesshe the faire queen Heleyne.
5984
5988
5992
He bade me
translate the
whole story
from Latin
into English.
It tells how
Paris carried
oflF Helen and
married her,
how Menelaus
and Agamem-
non besieged
Troy,
In which[e] book the processe ye may see: [p. 74]
To hym how she was weddid in the toun.
And off the siege leid to the cite
Be Menelay and* kyng Agamenoun,* 5996
And many another ful worthi off renoun
On outher party, which that in bataile
Fro day to day ech other dede assaile.
What sholde I telle, or wherto sholde I write 6000
The deth off Ector or off Achilles ?
Or wherto sholde I now off newe* endite
How worthi Troilus was slayn among the pres ? —
The eende off Paris or off Pallamydes, 6004
Or the slauhtre off manli Deiphebus,
Or how his brother, callid Helenus,
Told affom how it was gret folie
That Paris sholde wedde the queen Heleyne; 6008
And how Cassandra in hir prophecie
On this weddyng sore gan compleyne,
And for the constreynt off hir hertly peyne.
How she wex mad and ran aboute the toun 6012
Til she was cauht and shet up in prisoun.
Alle these materis ye may beholde in deede
Set bi and bi withynne Troie Book,
And how Cressaide loued Diomeede,
how Hector,
Achilles, Paris
and others
died.
how Cassandra
foretold the
evil that would
follow if Paris
wedded Helen,
and how
they shut her
up in prison
for her noise,
and how
Cressida for-
sook Troilus
for Diomedes.
6016
5986. to] om. R.
5989. to fore R. 5992. rauesshe] reioissh R.
5995- to] vnto R.
5996. Menelay] Meneldy R, H 5, meneldi J — and] and be B
— Agamenoun] Lamedoun B, R, H, J, H 5, R 3.
5998. eithir R.
6002. now off newe] off newe now B, R — now] om. J.
6008. the] this R. 6010. this] the R — bi gan R.
6014. these materis] this mateer R, this matter P.
6016. how] om. R — Crisseide H.
170 Tou must read the Troy Book ! [^bk. i
Whan worthi Trollus she wIlfulH forsook:
Off hir nature a quarel thus she took,
Tassaie bothe, yiff neede eek wer, to feyne
To take the thridde, & leue hem bothe tweyne. 6020
Nor will I tell I [wil] passe ouer and telle off hir no more;
Greeks finally Not bi what menys Grekis wan the toun —
won the town, tt t^ i i a i
and of their How Lueas, nor how that Anthenore
rn'their"home- Ageyn kyng Priam conspired fals tresoun, 6024
rnd'oteses Nor how Vlixes gat Palladioun —
and Penelope, ^hc deth off PHam not Heccuba the queene,
Nor how that Pirrus slouh yonge Polliceene.
v^ou must read Nor hcer to writc, it is nat myn entent, 6028
Repair off Grekis horn to ther contre,
Afftir the cite and Ylioun was brent,
Nor off ther myscheuys thei hadde in the se,
Nor how Vlixes fond Penolope 6032
A trewe wiff, thouh he were longe hir fro; —
Thoruhout al Grece I can reede off no mo.
Off these materes thus I make an eende:
What fell off Grekis afftir ther viage, 6036
To Troie Book the folk echon I sende,
Which haue desir to seen the surplusage,
How Grekis first maden ther passage
Towardis Troie, besegyng the cite — 6040
Redith the story; — ye gete no mor off me.
f Bochas ageyn t)e surquedous pride of hem that
trusten m her riches.^
o^y<j^p^"<^ "VT^E proude folkis that sette* your affiaunce
trust in A In strengthe, beute or in hih noblesse,
strength, beauty, -I r/T- • i t->
nobility, wealth, lit ye considre rortunys variauwce, 6044
remember a J J cr j
Priam's fate! And coude a merout aitor your eyen dresse
6019. eek wer^ wer al so R, were also J, H 5.
6021. wil] om. R, R 3, P, H 5 — hir] it J.
6022. Nor] Neithir R, J.
6023. nor] neithir R, j, H 5, P — that] om. H, J, P, H 5.
6025, 26. Nor] Neithir R. 6026. of Heccuba R.
6029. to] in to R.
6031. Nor] Neithir R — myscheuys] myschefFe R, myschef J,
mischief P, myschifFe H 5 — hadden H.
6032. Nor] Neithir R.
6637. the folk echon] tho folke R. 6041. Redith] Rede R.
6042. sette] setten B. 6043. ira beute R.
^"Here spekith Bochas the AuctOMr of this book/ a-yenst the
surquedous pride of hem that trust/ in richesse seying thise
wordys vnto hem." MS. J. leaf 31 verso.
BK. i^ An Envoy against the Pride of great Wealth 171
CMF kyng Priam and off his gret richesse,
To seen how he and [how] his children all
From ther noblesse so sodenli be fall ! 6048
Ector off knyhthod callid sours and well,
Sad and demur & famous off prudence,
Paris also in beute dede excell,
And Helenus in parfit prouidence; 6052
Troilus in armys hadde gret experience,
Eek Deiphebus preued manli on his fon:
Yit in the werre thei wer slayn euerichon.
Hadde nat this kyng, eek as I can deuise, 6056
Noble Eccuba, which that was the queene,
A doubter callid Cassandra the wise,
Hir yonge suster faire Polliceene ? —
Alias, alias! what may such pride meene! 6060
For al-be-it ther renoun sprang ful ferre,
Yit were these women deuoured in the werre.
Was he nat myhti & strong in all[e] thynges.
And hadde also off his alliaunce 6064
Riht worthi princis, & many riche kynges.
And nyh al Asie vndir obeisaunce ? —
Holde in his tyme most famous off puissaunce,
Most renomwed off richesse and tresours, 6068
Til that Fortune with hir sharp[e] shours.
Whan that he sat hiest on hir wheel, [p. 75]
This blynde goddesse gan hym to assaile.
Hir froward malice, he felte it ful weel: 6072
His gold, his tresour first thei gan to faile.
And dirke gan his roial apparaile.
Be which exauwple all proude men may see
The onseur trust, the mutabilite, 6076
Which in this world is seyn & found* aid ay.
Mid off estatis in ther magnyficence,
Ebbe afftir flowe maketh no delay.
Hector, Paris,
Deiphobus.
Hdeaus, — all
were slain.
Hecuba, Cas-
sandra, and
fair Polyiena,
— tliey too
were devoured
in the war.
Was not
Priam mighty?
Had he not
worthy allies
and almost
all Asia under
hi* rale?
When he sat
highest on her
wheel,_ Fortune
cast him down.
Each man must
take his turn
as it comes
about.
6047. 2nd how] om. R, J, H 5, P.
6054. Eek] Also R — on] in R.
6055. euerichon] echone H.
6056. eek] also R. 6059. faire] yong H.
6060. such] al sich R. 6063. Was] What R.
6066. vndir] vndir his R. 6071. began R.
6073. thei] it R. 6074. derken R.
6077. found] founden B. 6078. In myddis of statis R.
172
The Praise of Poverty
[bk.
But halt hir cours; there is no resistence: 6080
The tide abit nat for no violence;
Ech man that standith off chauwges heer in doute
Mut take his turn as it cometh a-boute.
Let Priam be a Let Priam been to you a cleer merour,
clear mirror to
you, proud
people, who
6084
6088
6092
Ye proude folkis, that sette your affiaunce
put your trust In such veyn glorie,* which fadith as a flour,
thatTdes°as'a And hath ofF bcute heer noon attend aunce.
flower. Yhe world to you cast a ful bittir chauwce:
For whan ye wene* sitte hiest atte fulle,
Than will she rathest your briht[e] fethres pulle.
You have had Ye han wamyngis for to taken heed
enough of how Bexauwple off other, cleer & riht visible,
m°ngied with' How worldli blisse is medlid ay with dreed.
dread. p^^^ yjj^ your rcsouns and wittis be sensible,
Thyng seyn at eye is nat incredible;
And al this doctryn is to you in veyn, 6096
YifF in your tyme ye ha[ue] no chauwges seyn.
Bochas' advice Whcrforc Bochas onto your auail
is to leave t^ i i i- i • •
your vices and T ui prudeutli put you at this issu:
nlm who ca^n Fitst of all he yeueth you this couwsail, 6100
time of need. To leue yout viccs & take you to vertu,
And sette your trust al hooli on \es\x'.
For he may best in myscheefF helpe, & neede,
OfF worldli chauwges that ye thar nat dreede. 6104
When great
lords and dig-
nitaries sit
highest on their
thrones, the
hour of their
decline ap-
proaches.
f The preis of Bochas & suerte that stondith m
pouert.^
THESE grete lordshipes, these hih[e] dignites,
CheefF thyng annexid onto ther regalie,
Whan thei sitten hiest in ther sees,
And round aboute stant ther cheualrie, 6108
Dreed entreth in, pereil and envie,
And onwar chauMg[e], which no man may knowe,
The hour whan Fortune will make hew loute lowe.
6081. abyde R.
6086. gloire B. 6089. wenen B, R.
6094. wittis & resouns R. 6099. Ful3 & H.
6104. chaunges3 thynges H — dare not R.
6106,8. ther] the R. 61 11. loute] om. H.
'"Here also, John Bochas put a grete preisyng and a com-
mendacioun of suerte bat stondith in pouerte / vnder thise
wordis in sentence." MS. J. leaf 32 recto.
BK. l]
The Praise of Poverty
173
Thei may weel holden a statli gret houshold, 61 12
With a veyn trust ther power sholde ay laste,
Clad in ther mantles off purpil, perle & gold,
And on the wheel off Fortune clymbe up faste —
Lich as she myhte neuer doun hem caste; 6116
But ay the hiere ther clymbyng is att all,
Alias, the sorere is ther onhappi fall.
The fal off Priam and kyng Agamenoun
Ouhte off riht mor to be compleynyd, 6120
Whan Fortune hadde hem puUid doun
And off hir malice hath at hem disdeynyd.
Than yiff thei neuer to worshepe hadde atteynyd;
But ther fallyng was the more greuous 6124
Because thei wern toforn so glorious.
O thou Pouert, meek, humble and debonaire,
Which that kepest the lawes off Nature,
For sodeyn chaunges thou wilt nat disespaire, 6128
So art thou frauwchised fro Fortunys lure;
AUe hir assautis thou lowli doost endure,
That she may haue no iurediccioun
To interupte thi possessioun. 6132
Thou settist litil bi al worldli richesse,
Nor be his tresours which be transitorie;
Thou scomest hem that ther sheltrouns dresse
Toward batailles for conquest and victorie; 6136
Thou despisist al shynyng off veynglorie,
Laude off tryuwphes which conquerours ha[ue] souht.
With all ther pillages, thou settist hem at nouht.
Thou dispreisist al superfluite; 6140
Non infortunye may chaunge thi corage:
And the shippis that saile bi the se
With marchaundise among the floodis rage,
Ther auentures and ther pereilous passage — 6144
L);^, bodi, good, al put in auenture
Onii for lucre, gret richesse to recure —
6114. mantell R — perle] perre H. 6118. ther] the R.
61 19. kyng] of R. 6122. hir] owi. R.
6125. to fore thei wer R. 6127. lawe H.
6128. dispaire R. 613 1. iurisdiccion R.
6134. Nor] Neithlr R. 6136. batalle R — and] or R.
6137. dispisith R — off] or R.
6138. tryuTwphe H — souht] wrouht H.
6140. dispreisist] despisest H.
6141. Non] nor noon H. 6144. 2nd ther] om. R.
The more im-
posing their
household and
the greater
their state, the
more unhappy
their fall.
It were better
had Priam and
Agamemnon
never been
kings.
Poverty is free
from the
assaults of
Fortuna.
He sets little
store by wealth
and scorns
conquest, vain
glory.
and all super-
fluity. He does
not risk his life
at sea for the
take of riches
174
The Praise of Poverty
[bk. I
His wealth is
patience.
or quarrel over QfF al such thyng thou talccst Htil hecdc, [p. 76]
rewards, which Nor ofF that pccplc that mancrcs do purchace, 6148
to leave for- NoF ofF pledcrcs, which for lucre & meede
^^"' Meyntene quarells & questis doon enbrace,
Thou hem beholdest with a ful stille face,
Ther sotil werkyng souht out for the nonys, 6152
And sodenli departe from al attonys.
Thou canst in litil also haue suffisauwce,
And art content with ful smal dispence;
For thi richesse and thyn habundaunce 6156
Withoute gruchchyng is humble pacience.
YifF any man do to the offence,
Thou foryetist and lihtli canst foryiue;
To the suffisith so [that] thou maist lyue. 6160
In summer the Xhc stctrid hcuene is thi couerture
starry sky and ^ 111
the green leaves In somet sesoun; vnder the leuys greene
e er, 'pj^^^ makcst thi duellyng & doost thiselfF assure
Ageyn gret heetis off the sunne sheene: 6164
Content with frutis & watir cristal cleene
To staunche thyn hunger & thi thrustis sore,
Afftir the sesouns, & carest for no more.
and in winter Pouert eek Hggith the colde wyntris nyht 6168
he lies on straw ._, . , . °° i • i i
without com- Wrappid m strauh, withoute compleynynge;
Withoute dreed he go[e]th glad and liht.
And tofor theuys he merili doth synge:
He* goth also withoute paryschyng* 6172
Fro lond to lond among[es] poore & riche;
For freend and fo to hym be bothe aliche.
Seneca says Motal Scnec Tccordeth be writyng,
Poverty is the Richest off thynges is Glad Pouerte, 6176
things, content Euet off o cheer[e], void off al gruchchyng,
Idver^sity"*^ '" Bothe in ioie and in aduersite:
Thoruh al the world[e] last hir liberte,
And hir fraunchise stant in so gret ese, 6180
That off hir fredam no man will hir displese.
plaining, and
sings merrily
before thieves;
for he can
journey from
land to land
without fear.
6148. Nor] Or R.
6149. Nor] Nelthir R — pletours R, pleters H.
6159. canst] dost H.
6161. thi] the H. 6166. thi] thyne R. 6168. eek] also R.
6172. He] She B, J, H, H 5, R 3, P — paryschyng] patisynge
B, patisyng J, H 5, patisshyng H, parisynge R 3, paryschyng
R.
6174. hym] her P — be both to hym H — I-lyche R.
6179. lastith R. 6180. hir] his H.
BK. l]
Zenocrates and Diogenes
175
She is nonce off studie & off doctryne,
In vertuous labour doth hir dilligence;
And off sciences, which that be dyuyne,
She is callid mooder be clerkis, in sentence.
Off philisophres most had in reuerence,
Fortune and she so ferr assonder varie,
That ech to other off custum is contrarie.
of study,
mother of
61S4
61S8
Hir hertili ioie is for to lyue in pes,
Hateth tumulte, noise and disturbaunce;
For hir disciple, calHd Zenocrates,
In wilful pouert set hooli his plesauwce, 6192
Sobre off his port, thoruh whose attemp[e]raunce
Ful many a man bexauwple off his techyng
Wer brouht to vertu fro vicious lyuyng.
His diete was so mesurable
And deuoid off superfluite.
That his corage he kepte ferme & stable,
Fro flesshli lustis he was so attempre:
Resoun maistred his sensualite,
Desirs onleefful for to sette a-side;
Duryng his liff Pouert was his guide.
His abidyng and conuersacioun
Was in placis that were solitarie; 6204
Mong trees & wellis he bilt hym a donioun,
With multitude he hated for to tarie:
For Pouerte was his secretarie,
Sobre off his cheer & stable off his entent, 6208
And in Ath^nes first to scoole he went.
He was so myhti off auctorite,
Rihtwisnesse & iustice to obserue,
That rihtful iuges his sentence took at gre: 6212
He coude his mouth & tunge so weel preserue.
That in the temple onys off Mynerue,
Withoutyn oth, onto his sentence.
To that he saide the iuges gaff credence. 6216
Poverty hates
noise and
tumult.
Zenocrates was
her disciple.
6106 Moderate in all
things, guided
only hf reason.
6200
he loved soli-
tary places and
buUt him a
retreat amidst
trees and flow-
ing water.
He was known
to be so up-
right, that
judges accepted
his word with-
out oath.
6182. 2nd ofTI om. R. 6184. that] om. H.
6185. is] om. R.
6190. disturbaunce] p<rrturbaunce H. 6194. aj om. R.
6199. so attempred was he H.
6200. Pat Resoun H — manstried R.
6206. hated] hate hym R.
6213. so] ful R.
6205. Amonge R.
6209. to scole first R.
176
Zenocrates and Diogenes
[bk. I
When king
Alexander
visited him,
Asked why he He axcd was among gret audience,
he answered' Whi he was solcyn ofF his daliaunce:
that silence xy < - .,
had never done flis answere was, that neuer tor silence
him harm. ThoFuh Htil spekyng he felte no greuauwce, 6220
Spech onavised causeth repentaunce;
And rakil tuwges, for lak off refreynyng,
To many a man hath be ful gret hyndryng.
Diogenes also Diogenes, trewe heir and next allied 6224
was a true T" Mr i i • i •
heir of Poverty. 1 o wiliul pouert be lust enhentaunce, —
littie'tun whkh For al richesse he pleynli hath diffied,
alafnsTthe^^""^!^ was to hym so gret[e] encuwbraunce
sun's rays. With worldH ttcsour to haue* alliaunce. 6228
His duellyng made withynne a Htil tunwe,
Which turned a-boute with concours off the sunne,
HymselfF refresshyng with hete off Phebus
bemys; ^ [p-??]
For he was content, God wot, with ful lite. 6232
Kyng Alisauwdre, that conquered rewmys,
Cam ridyng doun, & gan hymselfF delite
This philisophre to seen and visite,
HymselfF sequestred sool from al the pres, 6236
And cam alone to seen Diogenes.
ProfFred to* hym gret richesse & tresour,
Bad hym aske what thyng that he wolde,
That myhte hym plese or doon to hym socour; 6240
But ofF al that, he nothyng ne tolde.
But praied hym ful lowli, that he sholde
Nat drawe from hym ^at thyng, ageyn al riht,
Which for to yiue lay nat in his myht. 6244
" What thyng is that ?" quod Alisaundre ageyn,
" I ha[ue] be conquest al ertheli tresour wonne."
The philisophre seide he spak in veyn,
"Thou hast," quod he, "no lordshep ofF the sonwe. 6248
Thi shadwe lettith his bemys fro my tonne;
and offered
him great
treasure, he
said, "pray
don't take
from me that
which you
cannot give.
"You have no
lordship over
the sun, and
your shadow
keeps his rays
from me."
6224. next3 om. R.
6227. To him it was J, P, H 5 — an encombraunce R.
6228. hauel hauen B.
6231. hetej the heete H — hete off Phebus bemys3 wtti> the
sunne beemys R.
6235. to visite R. 6236. sequestred] requestrid R.
6238. to] vnto B, R, J, P, H 5. 6241. ne] no R.
6242. sholde] wolde H.
6248. off] on R. 6249. lettist R.
BK. l]
Diogenes and Alexander
177
And sithe thou hast no power off his Hht,
I pray the freendli, forbarre me nat his siht."
Thouh Alisaundre was myhti off puissaunce, 6252
And al the world[e] hadde in his demeyne,
Yit was his resoun vnder thobeisaunce
OiFflesshli lustis fetrid in a cheyne;
For in his persone will was souereyne, 6256
His resoun bridled be sensualite,
Troublyng the fredam ofF riht & equite.
For where that will hath dominacioun
In a prynce, which sholde sustene riht, 6260
And parcial fauour oppressith his resoun,
And trouthes title is bor doun with myht.
And egall doom hath lost his cleer[e] lyht:
Thouh for a sesoun thei sitte in hih[e] chaieres, 6264
Ther fame shal fade withynne a fewe yeres.
In this mater mak a comparisoun
Twen Alisaundre and Diogenes:
The ton endured but a short sesoun, 6268
For that he loued werre more than pes;
And for the tother was nat rech[e]les,
But heeld hym content with gifFtis off Nature,
Onto gret age his pouert dede endure. 6272
Alisaundre was slay[e]n with poisoun.
In his triumphes whan he dede excell;
But in a tonne that lay ful lowe doun
Diogenes drank watir off the well. 6276
And off ther eende the difference to tell,
Alisaundre with couetise was blent;
The philisophre with litil was content.
Blessid be pouert, that may endure longe, 6280
Maugre the fraude & daunger off Fortune,
Where-as kynges & emperour[e]s stronge
In ther estat no while may contune.
And off all vertues rekned in comune, 6284
Tween indigence and gret habundaunce.
Is a good mene content with suffisaunce.
Although
Alexander was
mighty, his
reason was
fettered by
sensuality.
and where will
has domina-
tion over truth,
fame shall
fade.
Alexander
lasted but a
short teasoQ
and died by
poison.
Diogenes lived
to old age in
his tun.
Blessed be
poverty, a
mean between
indigence and
great wealth.
6250. his] the R.
6251. his] my R. 6258. Troublede R.
6264. charis R.
6267. Bitwene R. 6272. a gret R.
6285. Bitwene R — gret] om. R.
178
There is no Assurance in Riches
[bk. I
There is no For with grct plente men be nat assurid,
riches; lords do AfFtiF thcF lust alway to lyue in ese; 6288
not have every- a i i i i i • i
thing to please And thouh that men gret tresour nan recurid,
t em- With ther richesse thei feele many disese:
Lordis ha[ue] nat all thynge that may hem plese;
But hertili ioie, philisophres expresse, 6292
Is grettest tresour tween pouert & richesse.
Diogenes lived For this chapitle sheweth a figure,
longer than . i-i i i •
Priam, A maner liknesse and demonstraciouw,
How Diogenes lengere dede endure
Than myhti Priam or kyng Lamedoun:
Texemplefie, in conclusiou^i,
Ther is mor trust in vertuous symplesse,
Than in presumyng olF vicious fals richesse.
and Paris' and For thauouttic ofF Paris and Heleyne
Helen 8 mis-
conduct
brought all
Troy to
destruction.
Brouhte al Troye to destruccioun;
Pride & luxure were also menys tweyne
Whi Grekis leide a siege to the touw,
And fynal cause off ther confusioun,
To outher parti losse off many a man,
The ground conceyued whi first the werre gan.
6296
6300
6304
Priam fell
from riches to
poverty, from
kingly honour
to wretched-
ness.
Hector was
(lain,
^ Lenvoye.
THIS tragedie pitous & lamentable
And dolerous to writen & expresse,
That worthi Priaw, of kynges most notable,
Was falle in pouert from* his gret richesse,
Fro kyngli honour into wrechidnesse.
Fro sceptre & crowne, & from his regalie
To myschiefF brouht thoruh fals auoutrie.
Was nat Fortune froward and deceyuable
For to sufFre bi her doubilnesse.
And bi hir cours, which euer is variable,
That worthi Ector, flour off hih prowesse,
Sholde onwarli, most famous off noblesse.
Be slayn alias, cheeff stok off cheualrie, 6320
For a quarell off fals auoutrie ?
6288. ther lust] lust of hem R.
6292. doth expresse R. 6293. bi twene R.
6301. thauoutrie] the Auarice R. 6304. to] to fore R.
6306. a] om. R. 6307. began R. 6309. &] or R.
63 1 1, from] for B, for al H, J, H 5.
6312. kyngli] knyhtly R. 6316. sufFre] suffre hir R.
6308
6312
[p. 78]
6316
BK. l]
The Story of Samson
179
Agamenoun coumptid incomparable
Among Grekis for trouthe & rihtwisnesse.
To goueme most glorious and hable, — 6324
Withynwe his paleis, the story berth witnesse,
His wifF Clymestra thoruh hir cursidnesse
Assentid was to moordre hym off en vie,
For thoccasioun off fals auoutrie. 6328
Ye noble pryncis, conceyueth how chaungable
Is worldli honour thoruh onstedfastnesse!
Seeth off kyng Pryam the glori was onstable;
Fix in your mynde this mateer doth inpresse, 6332
And your corages knyhtH doth vp dresse,
Ageyn all titles holdeth chaumpartie
Which appertene to fals auoutrie.
Agamemnon
murdered, and
all through
adulter)'-
Princes, resist
all things that
appertain to
adultery.
[Off mighty Sampson whiche tolde his counsaile
to Dalida wherby he was deceived^ ^
w
HO was mor myhti or strong than Samp-
son
Non mor delyuer, ^t Bible berth witnesse:
Withoute wepne he slouh a fers leoun.
And for his enmyes to hym dede expresse
His vnkouth problem, anon he gan hym dresse
Geyn Philistes, and slouh off hem thretti.
To paie his promys spoiled hem bi and bi.
His problem was, the text thus rehersyng,
Afftir the lettir in veray sothfastnesse:
" Ther cam out mete off a thyng etyng,
And fro the stronge ther wente out suetnesse."
But his wiff, off froward doubilnesse,
Which euer wrouhte to his disauail,
Off worthi Sampson tolde the counsail:
" W^hat is mor strong than is a leoun,
Or mor soote than hony in tastyng?" —
But women haue* this condicioun,
Off secre thynges whan thei haue knowlechj-ng,
Thei bollyn inward, ther hertis ay fretyng:
Outher thei musten deien or discure.
So brotil is off custum ther nature.
6336
6340
6344
6348
6352
63,-6
6322. counted R. 6337. Non] Nor H — Bible] ston- H.
6341. Ayens R. 6352. haue] han B, R.
6354. boyllyng inwardis R.
^MS. J. leaf 33 recto.
Samson un-
armed slew a
lion and mads
a riddle on his
exploit:
"Out of the
eater came
meat, sweet-
ness out of the
strong."
But his wife
disclosed the
answer,
(women must
die if they
cannot tell
secrets).
It was, that
bees made
honey in the
head of the
dead lion.
Samson's wife
wheedled it out
of him,
and then told
the Philistines.
A plague on
weeping wives
who cannot
hold their
tongues!
1 80 Samson and his Riddle [bk. i
This was the cas: the leouw that was ded,
Ageyn the sonne gapyng lay vpriht;
A swarm off been entred in his hed,
Off whom ther cam hony anon riht. 6360
And whan Sampson therofF hadde a siht,
He fantasied in his opynyouw
Ful secreH this proposiciouw,
As ye han herd, and gan it foorth purpose, 6364
That PhiHstes to hym it sholde expowne,
Vnder a peyne the trouthe to hym onclose.
But with his wifFthei preueH gan rowne;
And she on Sampson gan compleyne & frowne, 6368
And feynyngli so longe vpon hym weepe,
That he nat coude his couwsail from hir keepe.
Which whan she kneuh, she made no tarieng.
But pleyn and hool she gan it to declare. 6372
Such double trust is in ther wepyng;
To keepe ther tunges womwen ca« nat spare.
Such wepyng wyues, euel mut thei fare!
And all husbondis, I pray God yiue hem sorwe, 6376
That to hem tell ther couwseil eue or morwe.
yo^J." said'°''^ She told hem hool, she tolde it hem nat halff;
^u'"'°i"c ^'" And Sampson thanne gan vpon hem smyle,
though Samson ,,,,.„ *^ i ii i i • • irr
was very Yiit ye nat hadde herd it m my calit, 6380
rather' afraid of Ye sholdc nat a fouwde it a gret while."
\YhQ jyjay be seur, wher women list begile! —
Thouh bookis Sampson off strengthe so comende,
Yit durste he nat ageyn his wifF offende. 6384
This myhti Sampson dede also his peyne,
Thre hundred foxis onys that he fond.
He took her tailes, knet hem tweyne & tweyne,
And amyd euerich he sette a feer-brond; 6388
And as thei ran in Philistes lond,
So furiousli vp and doun thei wente,
That thei her frutis & ther vynes brente.
He killed a Eek be tresoun whan he was onys bouwde 6392
thousand men __.. , t i i i i
with the jaw- With newe cordis as he lay and sleep,
bone of an ass, nni ii ii'iio rj
1 her caw thr^ thousand, which that Sampson tounde,
He tied the
tails of foxes
to firebrands,
and set them
running in the
Philistines'
vineyards.
6363. secreli] sikirly R. 6368. on] in R.
6377. eue] euen R, even H — or] & H.
6380. ye] she R — it] om. R, H, P.
6389. ran] ronne H. 6391. frute H. 6392.
Eek] Also R.
BK,
I]
Samson and Delilah
i8i
6396
[p- 79]
6400
6404
6408
Tamoordred hym, or that he took keep:
He brak his bondis, and vp anon he leep,
Off an asse [he] cauhte a chaule-bon,
And a thousand he slouh off hem anon.
He gan to feynte & hadde a sodeyn lust
For to drynke, fadid face and cheer;
And God sente hym to staunche with his thrust
From thassis toth watir cristal cleer,
Which that sprang out large as a ryuer,
Refresshid his sperit, which afforn gan dull,
Til that he hadde off watir drunke his full.
Afftir he wente to Gazam the cite,
Mong all his enmyes, that were off gret myht,
To his plesauwce where he dede see
A ful fair woman, lay with hire al nyht,
And on the morvi^e, longe or it was lyht,
Maugre the wach, vpon his shuldres squar
The gatis stronge vp to an hill he bar. 6412
And in a vale* which callid was Soret
Ful hoote he loued Dalida the faire,
On whom his herte was ful sore set,
She koude hir feyne so meek & debonaire, 6416
Make hym such cheer whan that hym list repaire.
But I dar calle hir Dalida the double,
Cheeff roote & cause off al his mortal trouble.
He neuer drank wynes whiht nor red, 6420
Off Nazarees such is the goueraunce;
Rasour nor sheer touchid neuer his hed.
For in long growyng stondeth ther plesaunce.
And this Sampson, most myhti off substauTice, 6424
Hadde al his force be influence off heuene,
B[y] heris wexyng, that were in nouwbre seuene.
It was ful secre in euery manys siht,
Among peeple told for an vnkouth thyng, 6428
Wheroff Sampson hadde so gret myht.
Outward shewed bi force off his werkyng.
But Dalida with hir flateryng
6395. ToamoordreR. 6399. began R. 6403. that] om. R.
6405. Gazon R. 6407. Amonge R. 6408. that he R.
6409. ful] OOT. H. 6410. or] er H. 6411. wach] wachis R.
6412. vp to] vpon H. 6413. vale]vaIeiB — was]isR.
6415. On] In R. 6421. such] which R.
6424. substaunce] puyssaunce H. 6427. ful] om. R.
6430. werkyng] wrytyng R.
from which he
afterwards
drank dear
water.
And he went
to Gaza, where
he visited a
harlot and
carried oflf the
town gates.
Ddikh lived ]
the vale of
Sorek.
Samson never
drank wine or
cut his hair.
But Delilah
found out the
secret of his
strength.
l82
Samson and Delilah
[bk. I
Although fair
of face, she
was like a
snake hiding
under flowers.
He was honest
and faithful;
she was other-
wise, and wore
many colours,
and shaved off
his hair.
Nothing is
worse than a
secret enemy,
especially if it
be one's own
wife.
The Philistines
put out Sam-
son's eyes and
compelled him
to grind their
corn.
Wolde neuer stynte, enqueryng euer among, 6432
Til that she kneuh wherbi he was so strong.
She lich a serpent daryng vnder flour-fs,
Or Ilk a werm that wrotith on a tre,
Or Hch an addere off manyfold colourifs, 6436
Riht fressh apperyng and fair vpon to see:
For shrowdid was hir mutabilite
With lowHheed[e] and a fair pretense
OfF trewe menyng vnder fals apparence. 6440
He mente trouthe, & she was variable,
He was feithful, and she was ontrewe,
He was stedfast, and she was onstable,
His trust ay oon; she loued thynges newe: 6444
She wered colour^s off many dyuers hewe,
In stede off bleu, which stedfast is and cleene;
She loued chaunges off many dyuers greene.
But to the purpos for to condescende, 6448
Whan she off Sampson kneuh al the preuite,
Hir falsheed shortli for to comprehende.
She made hym slepe ful sofftli on hir kne;
And a sharp rasour afftir that took she, 6452
Shoof off his her, large and off gret lengthe,
Wherbi, alias, he loste al his strengthe.
Damage is erthe is non so greuous,
As an enmy which that is secre, 6456
Nor pestilence non so pereilous
As falsnesse where he is preue.
And speciali in femynyte;
For yiff wyues be fouwden variable, 6460
Wher shal husbondis fynden other stable ?
Thus Sampson was be Dalida deceyued.
She coude so weel flatre, forge and feyne, —
Which Philistes, whan thei ha[ue] conceyued, 6464
Onwarli bond hym in a myhti cheyne,
Cast hym in prisoun, put out his eyen tweyne.
And off despiht, afftir, as I fynde.
At ther queernys maad hym for to grynde. 6468
6436. eddre R.
6438. shrowdid] froward R.
6454. his] his gret R. 6457. Nor] Ne R. 6458. he] it R.
6464. whan] whan t)at H.
6467. off despiht afftir] aftir of despite wryten R.
6468. ther] the R — maad] thei made R.
BK. l]
Samson's Death. The Envoy
183
Thei made a feste statli and solempne,
Whan the! hadde al this tresoun wrouht;
And to rebuke hym, scome hym & condempne,
Blynde Sampson was afom hem brouht: 6472
Which thyng ful sore greued hym in his thouht,
Caste he wolde in his preue mynde
Tauenge his blyndnesse sum maner weie fynde.
And whan he hadde thus bethouht hym longe, 6476
He made a child hym preueH to leede
To tweyne postis, large, squar and stronge,
Enbraced hem, or any man took heede,
And gan to shake hem, withoute feer or dreede, 6480
So sturdili among his fomen all.
That the temple is vpon hem fall.
Thus he was auengid on his foon, [p, 80]
WTiich that falsli dede ageyn hym stryue, 6484
Slouh in his deieng, God wot, many on
Mo than he dede euer afForn his lyue.
And he was also, the date to descryue,
In Israel, the Bible is myn auctour, 6488
Twenti yeer ther iuge and gouernour.
[Lenvoy.3
THIS tragedie yeueth in euidence
To whom men shal ther counseil out discure;
For rakell tunges, for lak off prouidence, 6492
Ha[ue] do gret harm to many a creature:
Whan harm is doon, ful hard is to recure.
Beth war be Sampson, your counsail weel to keepe,
Thouh Dalida compleyne, crie and weepe. 6496
Whilom Sampson, for manhod & prudence,
Hadde Israel in gouemaunce and cure.
Daunted leouns thoruh his magnyficence.
Made on a thousand a disconfiture; 6500
But his moste pereilous auenture.
Was whan he lay with Dalida to slepe,
Which falsli coude compleyne, crie and weepe.
Ye noble Pryncis, conceyueth the sentence 6504
Off this story, remembrid in scripture,
How that Sampson off wilful necligence
6476. Whan] om. H. 6477. to] om. R. 6480. bi gan R.
6485. ful many R. 64S6. euer he did R.
6490. in] an R. 6497. Whilom] Sumtyme R,
Afterwards
they made
mock of
him at a
festival in
their temple,
but he upset
the pillars anJ
brought the
temple down
on their heads.
Thus dying he
dew more men
than he ever
did before in
his life.
This tragedy
shews that men
ought not to
teli their
secrets.
Beware of
DeliJahj.
Princes, keep
your secrets;
let Delilah
complain and
weep if she
184 Bochas and the Malice of Women [bk. i
Was shaue & shorn, difFacId his figure;
Keep your conceitis vnder couerture, 6508
SufFre no nyhtwerm withynne your couwsail kreepe,
Thouh DaHda compleyne, crie and weepe!
A chapitle of Bochas discrjmyng l)e malis of wom-
men.^
My author T\ /f YN auctowf Bochflj" reioishcd in his lyue,
Bochas was ' * ' ■ "^ '
M
pleased to de- JL tX (I dar nat seyn, wher it was comewdable) 6512
maiile V Off these women the malice to descryue
donTkiTow ^ Generali, and writ — it is no fable —
rommendlbr' Off ther natute how thei be variable,
ofhimornot. And how thct malice best bc cuidence 6516
Is knowe to hem that haue experience.
He said that Thei Can afForce hem, alday men may see,
try to keep Be synguler fredam and dominacioun
don and'"erk" Ouer men to ha[ue]n souereynte, 6520
IrtThafnaLre And kcepc hem lowe vnder subiecciouw.
thenf''"'*"^ Ful* sore laboure in ther opynyouw,
Bi sotil crafFt that thyng to recure,
Which is to hem denyed off Nature. 6524
They massage Bochas afFcrmeth, & halt it for no tale,
wrinkled faces YifF thci wante frcsshncssc off colour,
And han ther face iawne, swart & pale.
Anon thei doon ther dilligent labour 6528
In such a neede to helpe and do socour,
Ther reuelid skyn abrod to drawe & streyne,
Froward frounces to make hem smothe & pleyne.
and apply oint- Yiff no tcdnesse in ther chekis be, 6532
ments to make -_ ,,. ,, ,, ii-
their cheeks look JN or no Iclics deiectabie and white,
there^il nodose. Than thei take, tencrece ther beute.
Such oynementis as may most delite;
Wher Kynde faileth the surplusage tacquite, 6536
Thei can be crafFt so for hemsilfF dispose,
Shewe rednesse thouh ther be no rose.
They use hot And for to shcwc ther face cleer and briht,
spices and roots.... , . . .
to clear their With hootc spices and oyuementis soote 6540
complexions, and>T^i • i rr^ ^' c ^ "l ^
if their bosoms 1 hei Can be craitt cou7mrtete a-nht,
are too flat or
too full,
6510. Thouh that R. 6516. best] kest R.
6522. Ful]AndB,J, Hs. 6527. face] faces R, H, P, R 3.
6529. do] to R. 6533. delytable R.
• vommen B — Same heading in J, leaf 34 b.
BK. l]
Bocbas on the Malice of Women
i8s
Take in such cas many an holsum roote:
Wher Kynde faileth, cunnyng can do boote, —
YifF ther brestis vp to hie hem dresse, 6544
Thei can ful weel thenbosyng doun represse.
And yifF thei been to sofFte or to tendre,
Thei ha[ue] cunnyng to make hem hard & rouwde.
Ther corsifnesse thei can eek make sclendre 6548
With poynant sausis that been in phesik founde;
Ther sotil wittis in sleihtis so habounde,
Thyng that is courbid or wrong in mennys siht
To make it seeme as it wente vpriht. 6552
Thei han strictories to make ther skyn to shyne,
Wrouht subtili off gommes & off glaire;
Craffti lies to die ther her citryne,
Distillid watres, to make hem seeme faire, 6556
Fumygaciouns to rectefie the aiere,
Stomachers and fressh confecciouns
To represse fals exallaciouws.
Off alle these thynges Bochas hath most
despiht, [p. 81] 6560
Whan these vekkes, ferre Ironne in age,
Withynne hemsilff han veynglori and dehht
For to farce and poppe ther visage,
Lich a[s] peyntour[s] on an old ymage 6564
Leyn ther* colours, riche and fressh off hewe,
Wermfrete stokkes to make hem seeme newe.
Ther slak[ke] skyn be craft abrod is streynyd,
Lik an orenge fro the galei brouht; 6568
Riche relikes aboute ther neckkis* cheynyd,
Gold vpon gold, with perle & stonys wrouht.
And that ther colour outward appeire nouht
With wynd or sonne, which sholde hew steyne or
fade, 6572
For onkjmde heetis thei vse citrynade.
6543. can] may R. 6546. And] am. R — been] om. R.
6548. corsiousnesse R — eek] also R.
6549. punyaunt sawis R.
6550,51 are transposed in R. 6553. 2nd to] om. R.
6555. die]dihtR. 6556. watir R.
6564. as peyntours] a peyntour R, J, H 5.
6565. Leyn ther] Leith his B, R, J, H 5, They lein P, Thei
lay R3.
6569. nekkis] necke is B, nekke is J, H5, necke is P.
6570. perlys R. 6571. appeire] appereth R.
they fashion
them to their
liking. They
reduce their
flesh by
swallowing
strong drugs,
and whatever
is crooked
they cause to
appear
straight.
They use glair
to make their
skin shine,
alkalies to
bleach their
hair, fumiga-
tions for dis-
agreeable
exhalations.
Bochas is most
scornful when
these old vecks
paint and pop
their faces, like
craftsmen lay-
ing colours on
worm eaten
wood.
They stretch
their loose skin
till itresemblei
an orange,
hang their
necks with
gold and gems,
use citrinade
when their
faces are
flushed.
1 86 Bochas on the Malice of Women [bk. i
t"tting new^""' What sholdc I wHtc al ther vnkouth desires,
devices to Sumtvme frovvard, suwtyme debonaire;
make them- -' - .
selves look like Ymagynyng sundry iressh attires, 6576
Contreued ofF newe many thousand paire;
Dyuers deuyses to make hem seeme faire
In ther apport, be couwtirfet liknesse
For to rassemble Venus the goddesse. 6580
hlV^a^new OfF On deuys thei holde hem nat appaied,
gown every day, Xhei mut cch day han a strauwge weede;
and their hearts , -' . •
bleed if one is Yiff any bc than othir bet* arraied,
than another. Off froward gruchchywg thei feele ther herte
Each considers i i j , „
herself fairest blcedc: 6584
her'mir?oi-" '" For cuerich thynkith veraiH in deede,
Amorwe prieng withynwe a merour briht,
For to be fairest in hir owen siht.
make eyes"at Thei cau ther cyeu and ther lookis dresse 6588
men or pretend f o drawc folk be slcihtis to ther lure;
always get And sumwhile bi ther frowardnesse
what they want. . i r 11 1 • m
And reyned dauTzger, thei can orr men recure
What-euer thei Hst, such is ther auenture. 6592
Ageyn whos sleihtis force nor prudence
May nat auaile to make resistence.
Jnd'feigne?m- With constrcynt wepyng & forgid flaterie,
ness bring many gubtil spech[e] farcid with plesaunce, 6596
snare. And many fals dissemeHd maladie —
Thouh in ther hertis thei feele no greuauwce —
And with ther couert sobre daliaunce,
Thouh vndirnethe the double serpent dare, 6600
Ful many a man thei ha[ue] brouht in ther snare.
Kn oTmSr-' O suet[e]nesse ful off mortalitel
taiity, their Serpcntync with a plesaunt visage I
privilege islto ^ ^ , / . • r , rr 1 •
daunt and op- Unstable loie tui ott aduersite; 6604
Key cloose^" O most chauwgable off herte & off corage!
In thi desirs hauyng this auauntage,
What-euer thou list to dauwten and oppresse, —
Such is thi fraunchise, Bochas berth witnesse. 6608
6577. many a R. 6580. to Venus R.
6583. bet than othir B, R, J.
6589. folkis R.
6590. sumtyme R. 6593. nor^ ne R.
6594. to] forto R. 6597. many a R.
BK. l]
Bochas on the Malice of Women
187
Off nature thel can in many wise
Off myhti geauntis the power weel aslake:
What wit off man can compass* or deuise,
Ther sleihti wilis dar it vndertake, 6612
And, yiff hem list, theroff an eende make.
Fro this conceit, who-so that discorde,
A thousand stories the reuers can recorde.*
Remembre first, how Hercules most strong 6616
Was brouht be women to his destruccioun;
The queen Clymestra dede also gret wrong
To moordre hir lord kyng Agamenoun.
Dalida betraished also Sampsoun; 6620
Amphiorax sane doun deepe into hell.
Because his wiff his couwsail dede out tell.
It nedith nat to make mencioun,
Thouh Phillis deide thoruh inpacience 6624
Off longe abidjmg off hir Demephoun,
Nor how that Nisus, kyng off Magarence,
Was bi his douhtres cursid violence
Onwarli moordred, in Ouide it is told, 6628
Whan from his hed she stal the her off gold.
Bochas rehersith off wyues many on.
Which in ther werkyng wer ful contrarious;
But among all, he writith ther was on.
Queen off Assirie and wiff to kyng Nynus,
And be discent doubter to Neptunus,
Semiramis callid in hir daies.
Which off all men wolde make assaies. 6636
She nouther spared straunger nor kynreede;
Hir owne sone was nat set a-side.
But with hym hadde knowlechyng in deede.
Off which the sclaundre wente abrod ful wide. 6640
For with on man she koude nat a-bide.
Such a fals lust was vpon hir fall.
In hir corage to haue a-do with all.
To all that
the wit of man
can devise they
are ready to
apply their
wiles.
Remember
how Hercules,
Agamemnon,
Samson, and
many more
men were
brought to
destruction
by women.
Nor is the
scale turned
by Phyllis'*
constancy;
think of
Scylla, who
murdered
her father.
and_
Semiramis,
Ninns's
scaadaloas
6632 wife.
who had to do
with all men,
even with her
own 100.
6610. the] ther R. 661 1. compassen B.
6613. an ende ther of make R. 6615. recorded accorde B, J.
66i6. first] om. R. 6618. Chymestra R.
6621. deepe] om H — depe doun to R. 6624. Impacience H.
6625, Off] For R. 6626. Nor] Nethir R — Margarence R.
6630. rehersith] writith H. 6636. make] take R.
6637. nor] no R. 6641. koude] myht H.
4642. vpon] on R.
I!
Lydgate reproves Bochas
But it wearies And treufelll it doth my witt appall
me to rehearse y-^f^. , . i i -i
the«e things. (JiT this matcer to make rehersaile;
[bk. I
[p. 82] 6644
It is not right
to condemn all
women because
one or two
were at fault.
It is no resoun tatwiten women all,
Thouh on or too whilom dede faile.
It sittith nat, nor it may nat auaile, 6648
Hem to rebuke that parfit been & goode,
Ferr out off ioynt thouh sum other stoode.
The riche rube nor the saphir ynde
Be nat appeired off ther fressh beute, 6652
Thouh among stony s men couwtirfetis fynde;
And semblabli, thouh sumwe women be
Nat weel gouerned afftir ther degre,
It nat difFaceth nor doth no violence 6656
To hem that neuer dede in ther liff offence.
The white lelie nor the holsum rose,
Nor violettis spred on bankis thikke,
Ther suet[e]nesse, which outward thei onclose, 6660
Is nat appeired with no weedis wikke;
And thouh that breris, and many crokid stykke
Growe in gardyns among the floures faire,
Thei may the vertu off herbis nat appaire. 6664
And I dar seyn, that women vertuous
Been in the[r] vertu off price mor comendable,
That ther be sumwe reknyd vicious,
And off ther lyuyng fouwde also onstable. 6668
Goode women auhte nat be partable
Off ther trespas nor ther wikked deede,
But mor comendid for ther womanheede.
What was What is appeired off Hester the meeknesse, 6672
orcfytemnLtVa Thouh that Scilla was sturdi & vengable?
to Aiceste? ^^^ ^^ Alccste the parfit stedfastnesse
Is nat eclipsed, but mor acceptable,
Thouh Clymestra was founde variable; — 6676
Lik as whan cloudis ther blaknesse doun declyne,
Phebus mor cleer doth with his bemys shyne.
6646. tatwiten] to edwiten R — women] om. R.
6653. among] ageyn H.
6660. ou ward thei] thei vnward R, thei outward H.
6661. Is] It is R. 6662. many a R.
6666. Been] Seen R.
6670. nor] ne of R. 6674. Alciste R.
6676. Thouh] Thowh that R — Clytemestra H, Chtemnestra
P.
6678. wi't^ his beemys doth R.
Rubies and
sapphires are
not the less
beautiful be-
cause there are
counterfeits,
nor are lilies
and roses the
less sweet
though briars
and crooked '
sticks grow
among them.
We should
prize virtuous
women the
more because
there are also
vicious ones.
BK. i] Good Women mustn't mind what Bochas says 189
Ful many on ha[ue] cleene been al ther lyue,
Ondefouled kept ther virgynyte;
And summe coude ageyn alle vices stryue
Hem to conserue In parfit chastite,
Deuoid ofFchaung and mutabilite:
Thouh sum other ha[ue] therageyn trespacid.
The laude off hem is therwith nat diffacid.
And who that euer oflF malice list accuse
These celi women touchyng variaunce,
Lat hem remembre, and in ther wittis muse,
Men be nat ay stable in ther constaunce.
In this world heer is no perseueraunce;
Chaung is ay founde in men & women bothe,
On outher parti, be thei neuer so wrothe.
No man sholde the vertuous atwite
In stede off hym that dede the trespace;
Nor for a theeff a trewe man endite.
Nor for the gilti an innocent manace.
Goode and wikked abide in eueri place;
Ther price, ther lak, lat hem be reseruyd
To outher parti as thei han disseruyd.
Thouh John Bochas in his opynyoun
Ageyn[es] women list a processe make,
Thei that be goode off condicioun
Sholde ageyn hym no maner quarel take.
But lihtli passe, and ther sleuys shake;
For ageyn goode myn auctour* nothyng made,
Who can conceyue theffect off this balade.
Many hare
lived all tbeir
lives in
chastity: what
if others have
trespassed?
6680
6684
And let the
accusers of
these poor
women
6680 remember
that men
are no better.
6692
66q6
One does not
indict an
honest man
for a thief.
6yoo ^""^ although
John Bochas
abused bad
women, those
who are good
may shake
their sleeves
and pass
lightly on.
6704
67C38
^ Thexcus of Bochas for his vriting agejm mys-
govem[ed] vommen in stede of lenvoye.^
YE women all, that shal beholde & see
This chapitle and the processe reede, —
Ye that be goode founde in your degre,
And vertuous bothe in thouht and deede,
What Bochas sei[e]th, tak[e] ye noon heede;
6679. cleene] clear H. 6683. and] & of R. 6688. ii\] om. R.
6691. in] on H. 6698. lat hem be] lete be R.
6705. myn auctour] he B, H, J, R, P, H 5.
6708. the] this R. 6709. founde] stonde R.
6710. bothe] beeth R — in dede R. 671 1. ye] ther of R.
* The same beading in J. " This bala'd declareth that no goode
woman ouhte off riht to take A quarell ayens lohn Bochas {jowh
he write a processe ayens hem ^at he mysgou/rned." MS. R.
leaf 41 recto.
Good women
should pay no
attention to
what Bochas
says. He
rebuked bad
ones only,
and so
190 Only bad Women are scolded (^bk. i
For his writyng, yifF it be discernyd, 6712
Is nat ageyn hem that be weel gouernyd.
thii chapter pOF thouh it fall that oon, or too, or three
doe« not con- tttii \ r r^ -i r ^ t
cern well-be- hia[uej doon amyssc, as therrore God forbeede
at all. That other women which stable & feithful be 6716
Sholde be atwited off ther ongoodliheede,
But mor comendid for ther womanheede:
For this scripture, yifF it be concernyd,
Is ageyn hem that be nat weel gouernyd. 6720
A galled jade A galHd hors, the* sooth yfFye list see, [p. 83]
touch, but good Who touchith hym, boweth his bak for dreede;
women have no • i i • i ...
need to be And who IS knowe ontrewe m his cuntre,
sensitive. Shrynkith his hornis whan men speke of falsheede. 6724
But goode women ha[ue] ful litil neede
To gruchch or frowne whan the trouthe is lernyd, "
T[h]ouh ther be sumwe which be nat weel gouernyd.
It is the bad QfF Dalida and queen Pasiphe, 6728
scolded. Thouh doubiluesse dede ther bridil leede,
Yit off Lucrece and Penolope
The noble fame abrood doth shyne and spreede:
Out off good corn men may sum darnel weede, 6732
Women rebuke, in ther difFautis wernyd,*
And nat touche hem that be weel gouernyd.
[Off mighti pirrus that slouh pollicene which for his
pride and auoutrye deied in pouerte/ slayn atte
last bi Horestes.3 ^
Among a com- TJ OCHAS musyng in his remembrauwce,
pany of weep- r\ . i • i i • i • r
ing princes, A-* And considrcd m his rantasie 6736
The onseur trust off worldli variaunce.
Off men & women the chauwg and the folic,
The same tyme he sauh a cuwpanye
6713. ayens R. 6716. which^ which Jjat R — feithfiill &
stable H.
6720. ayens R.
6721. the] this veray B — the sooth yff ye list see] this verrey
soth in deede H, })is is v^rray sothe in R.
6724. his] ow!. R. 6727. which]l)atH. 6728. and]&ofR.
6733. rebuke] rebukid H, rebuked R 3 — in] of H — diffautis]
defaute R — wernyd] quernyd B, J, quernyde R, wernyd Hi
6737. off] & R.
^MS. J. leaf 35 recto.
BK. l]
Pyrrbus, Son of Achilles
Off myhti pryncis, ful pitousli wepyng, 6740
To hym appeere ther fortune compleynyng.
Among other that put hemsilff in pres,
Off myhti Pirrus first he hadde a siht,
That was the sone off worthi Achilles, 6744
Among Grekis the moste famous knyht,
Most comendid off manhod & off myht,
Sone and next heir, [as] bookis specefie,
Off Pelleus kyng off Thesalie. 6748
This Achilles, ful manli off his herte,
Hurt off Ector, and his wounde greene,
Slouh Ector afftir or he dede aduerte.
The which Achilles, for loue off Polliceene, 6752
Bi compassyng off Eccuba the queene,
Vnder trete this Grekis champeoun
Was slayn off Paris withynne Troie tou«.
Whos deth tauenge Pirrus in his teene, 6756
Furiousli, with face ded and pale,
Slouh afftirward the said[e] Polliceene,
And djsmembrid al on pecis smale,
Which for to heere is a pitous tale, 6760
That a knyht so vengable was in deede
To slen a maide, quakyng in hir dreede.
He koude for ire on hir no merci haue;
But with his suerd, most furious & wood, 6764
Merciles vpon his fadres graue,
Lik a tirant he shadde hir chast[e] blood.
The deede horrible diffacid his knyhthod.
That to this day the sclaundre & the diffame 6768
Be newe report reboundeth on his name.
Poetis seyn, and speciali Guide
Writ, whan Grekis fro Troie sholde saile,
How ther shippis ban anker* dede ride, 67-2
Off ther purpos which longe made hem faile.
But in this while, he maketh rehersaile,
Out off therthe, manacyng off cheers,
Off Achilles an ymage dede appeere. 6776
6741. appeere] appered R. 6742. in] om. R.
6747. as] om. H. 6759. al] hir R.
6763. forire]ofn. R. 6767. The] l)at H.
6768. difFame] fame R.
6772. ban anker] bananker B, an hankre R, bi an anker J,
P, H s.
191
Pyrrhus, son
of Achilles,
appeared to
Bochas.
Achille* slew
Hector, and
Paris Achaies,
when he came
to Troy for
love of Pdyi-
ena, whom
Pyrrhus after-
wards dismem-
bered
on his father's
grave, a hor-
rible deed.
Poets say that
Achilles af>-
[>eared to the
Greeks before
they sailed
from Troy,
192 The Cruelty of Pyrrhus [j&vl. i
demanding Xo Grckis saldc with a dedli face,
that they make ,,_ ^ , , , „ 1 • *
a sacrifice of 1 teclc wecl myn honour & my glorie,
atone for his And my noblcssc ful lihtli foorth dooth pace,
mur er. Onkyndc peeple, out of your memorie, 6780
Which bi me hadde your conquest & victorie.
Your deuer doth Polliceene to take.
And on my graue a sacrefise to make.
How she died With hir blood looke ye spare nouht 6784
18 told m Ovid. _, -11 1
lo sprynge it round aboute my sepulture;
Thus blood for blood with vengauwce shal be bouht,
And for my deth, the deth she mut endure."
And hool the maner off this auenture, 6788
And how she deied in hir maydenheed,
Methamorphoseos, the processe ye may reed.
Pyrrhus was In hasti vengauwce set was al his ioie,
thirsty; he slew With thrust onstaunchid Troian blood to sheede; 6792
carried off He slouh PHam, the worthi kyng off Troie,
Andromache. ^^j j^^^ q^.^^^ ^j^j^ ^^^ ^^ j^j^ j^^j^
Andromecha* — the story ye may reede —
Wed did hir, and afFtir in certeyne 6796
Be hym she hadde worthi sonys tweyne.
He also became But in repairyug hom to his cuntre,
sook An'drom- As Eolus dede his shippis dryue,
Hermione, I fyudc he was a pirat off the se; 6800
And into Grece whan he dede aryue,
Fortune onwarli gan ageyn hym stryue:
Forsook his wifF, leet hir lyue alone,
Took a-nother callid Hermyone. 6804
Orestes' wife, Which was that tyme ioyned in mariage [p. 84]
by force. The „ „ rr A if tJ
reward of lo rlorcstes, soue oiT Agamenoun;
aiwayTsudden And hc, alas, off wilful louys rage,
fortu^ne°' ""*" Took hir be force to his possessiouw. 6808
But off auoutrie folwith this guerdouw,
Sodeyn deth, pouerte or shame.
Open disclaundr^, gret myscheeff or diffame.
6778, 80, 81. gloire, memoire, victoire B.
6779. dooth] do H.
6781. your conquest had H. 6787. she] ye R.
6795. Andromecha] Andromada B, J.
6799. Eolus] solus R. 6802. began R.
6809. auoutrie] Auentwre R — this] his R.
681 1, disclauwdr^] Sclaundre R.
BK. l]
Canace and Mac are us
Eek in his tyme this Pirrus, as I reede, 6812
Fill into myscheefF and gret pouerte;
And with such meyne as he dede leede,
He was a rouere, and robbed on the se.
. And as poetis reherse, ye may see, 6816
Off such robbyng be sclaundre &* diffame
This woord Pirat off Pirrus took the name.
And as the story afftir doth deuise,
The said Horestes gan secreli espie 6820
Wher that Pirrus dede sacrefise
Toforn Apollo, that god to magnefie.
Ful onwarli Horestes off enuie
Took a sharp suerd or Pirrus coude aduerte 6824
Wher that he stood, & roof hym thoruh the herte.
This was the fyn off Pirrus in substaunce,
For al his pride and gret presumpcioun.
Off fals auoutrie folwith this vengaunce: 6828
Losse off sum membre, pouert or prisoun.
Or hatful sclaundre bi sum occasioun.
Or sodeyn deth, shortli in sentence,
Compleet in Pirrus be ful cleer euidence. 6832
193
P>rrhni fdl
into poverty
before he died,
and the word
pirate is
derived from
bis name.
Finally he was
slain by
Orestes before
the altar of
ApoQa
That was his
deserved end;
for be was aa
adulterer.
[^Ofif Machaire and his suster Canace.J ^
AFFTIR this Pirrus cam Canace the faire.
With teres* distillyng from hir eyen tweyne,
And hir brother, that callid was Machaire;
And bothe thei gan ful pitousli compleyne, 6836
That Fortune gan at hem so disdeyne,
Hyndryng ther fate be woful auenture
Toiichyng ther loue, which was ageyn nature.
He was hir brother and hir loue also, 6840
As the story pleynli doth declare;
And in a bed thei lay eek bothe too,
Resoun was non whi thei sholde spare:
But loue that causith wo and eek weelfare, 6844
Gan ageyn kynde so straungeli deuise,
That he hir wombe made sodenli tarise.
6812. Eek] Also R. 6817. &] & be B, R.
6832. MS. R omits lines I. 6833 to II, 749. — Compleet]
Compleynt H.
6834. With teres] Teris B (Witi> ter« H, R 3, with teares P).
6836. fuQom. J.
^MS. J. leaf 35 verso.
After Pyrrhus,
Canace and her
brother Maca-
reus appeared
to Bochas com-
plaining pite-
oasly.
They loved one
another against
nature.
194 Canace and Macareus []bk. i
*nd she had a And fynali, myii auctour berth witnesse,
which eiceiied A child shc haddc bi hir owne brother, 6848
ID eau y. Which excelHd in fauour and fairnesse;
For lik to hym ofF beute was non other.
But off ther loue so guyed was the rother, •
That Karibdis, tween wyndis ful contraire, 6852
Hath Canace destroied and Machaire.
But when For whan ther fadir the maner dede espie
father, heard OfF ther werkyug, which was so horrible,
went mad* for For ire almost he fill* in frenesie, 6856
"»«■ Which for tappese was an inpossible;
For the mater was froward & odible:
For which, pleynli, deuoid off al pite,
Vpon ther trespas he wolde auenged be. 6860
and sought to The cause knowe, the fadir anon riht
kill them both. ^^ r i i i rr • • i
Macareus fled. Castc lOt ther deth oit rigour to prouide;
no'^means oi For which Machaire fledde out off his siht.
And from his face his presence gan to hide. 6864
But, o alas! his suster muste abide,
Merciles, for ther hatful trespace
Suffre deth; ther was non other grace.
escape, and First hir fader a sharp suerd to hir sente 6868
Eolus sent her _ , rr i ^ r i
a sharp sword In tokne ott deth tor a remembrauwce,
death.*" ° And whau she wiste pleynli what he mente
And conceyued his rigerous ordenaunce,
With hool purpos tobeien his plesauwce, 6872
She gruchchith nat, but lowli off entente
Lich a meek doubter to his desir assente.
Like a meek But or she died she caste for to write
daughter she a i- -i i i ■ i i i
agreed to die, A litil letttc to hir brother deere, 6876
a"Httie"iette°r^ to A dedU compleyut compleyne & endite
her brother. ^j^}^ p^|g f^^^ ^^^ ^ mortal chccrc,
The salt[e] teris from hir eyen cleere,
With pitous sobbyng, fet from hir hertis brynke, 6880
Distillyng douw to tempre with hir ynke.
The lettre of compleynt of Canace to hir brothir
Macharie.^
"You are the /^UT off hir swouhfe] wha« she dede abraide,[p.8d
cause of my ■ ■ "^^ ''^
o
sorrow, once V-/ Knowyng no meue but deth in hir distresse.
chief source of
my joy
To hir brother ful pitousli she saide: 6884
6852, 53. Con^rarye, Macharye H. 6856. he fill almost B
^ The same heading in MS. J. leaf 36 recto.
BK,
I]
Canace's Letter of Complaint
195
"Cause off my sorwe, roote off myn heuynesse.
That whilom were cheeff sours off my gladnesse,
Whan bothe our ioies be will were so disposid,
Vnder o keie our hertis to be enclosid.* 6888
Whilom thou were support and sekirnesse,
Cheeff reioisshyng off my worldli plesaunce;
But now thou art the ground off my siknesse,
Welle off wanhope, off my dedli penaunce, 6892
Which haue off sorwe grettest habundaunce
That euer yit hadde any creature,
Which mut for loue the deth alas endure!
"Alas, I mu»t
endure death
for lovel
6896
6900
6904
6908
Thou were whilom my blisse & al my trust,
Souereyn confort my sorwes to appese,
Spryng and well off al myn hertis lust;
And now, alas, cheeff roote off my disese.
But yiff my deth myht do the any ese,
O brother myn, in remembraunce off tweyne,
Deth shal to me be plesaunce & no peyne.
Mi cruel fader, most onmerciable,
Ordeyned hath, it needis mut be soo,
In his rigour he is so ontretable,
Al merciles he will that it be doo, —
That we algate shal deie bothe too.
But I am glad, sithe it may been noon other.
Thou art escapid, my best beloued brother.
This is myn eende, I may it nat asterte,
0 brother myn, there is no mor to seye,
Lowli besechyng with al myn hool[e] herte 6912
For to remembre speciali I preie,
Yiff it befall my litil sone deie,
That thou maist afftir sum mynde vpon us haue,
Suffre us bothe be buried in o graue. 6916
1 holde hym streihtli atwen myn armys tweyne.
Thou and Nature leide on me this charge;
He gilt[e]les with me mut suffre peyne.
And sithe thou art at fredam and at large, 6920
Lat kynd[e]nesse our loue nat so discharge,
But haue a mynde, where-euer that thou be,
Onys a day vpon my child and me.
" But if my
death be of
avail to you,
my brother, it
will be a
pleasure and
no pain.
"My cruel
father has or-
dained that
both of us
must die, and
I am glad you
escaped.
"And if my
little son also
die, I beg you
not to forget
us.
"Let us both
be buried in
one grave, and
wherever you
may be have a
mind on us
once a year.
6895.
enclosid] onclosid B.
alias \>t deth H, R 3.
6901. ofTJof us R 3.
196
Canace^s Letter of Complaint
[bk. I
"It is not just
that our young
child should
suffer;
he lies still as
a lamb, only a
heart of steel
could do him
injury.
"My father,
your revenge is
too cruel!
"Was there
ever creature
who felt more
dole than I?
"My father is
a mortal enemy,
who seeks our
destruction.
"Alas, my
brother, that
vengeance
should come
before mercy.
On the and me dependith the trespace 6924
Touchyng our gilte* and our gret offence;
But, wellaway, most angelik off face,
Our yonge child in his pur innocence
Shal ageyn riht sufFre dethis violence, 6928
Tendre off lymes, God wot, ful gilt[e]les,
The goodli faire that lith heere specheles.
A mouth he hath, but woordis hath he noone,
Cawnat compleyne, alas, for non outrage, 6932
Nor* gruchith nat, but lith heer al a-loone,
Stille as a lamb, most meek oiF his visage.
What herte off steel coude doon to hym damage.
Or sufFre hym deie, beholdyng the maneer 6936
And look benygne off his tweyne eyen cleer?
O thou, my fader, to cruel is thi wreche,
Hardere off herte than tigre* or leoun.
To slen a child that lith withoute speche, 6940
Void off al mercy and remissioun.
And on his mooder hast no compassiouw,
His youthe considred, with lippis softe as silk.
Which at my brest lith still & souketh mylk. 6944
Ys any sorwe remembrid be writyng.
Onto my sorweful sihhes comparable?*
Or was ther euer creature lyuyng
That felte off dool a thyng mor lamentable? 6948
For couwfortles and onrecuperable
Ar thilke hepid sorwes, ful off rage.
Which han with wo oppressid my corage.
Rekne all myscheuys in especiall, 6952
And on my myscheeff remembre &ha[ue] goodmynde:
Mi lord my fadir, is myn enmy mortall.
Experience inouh theroff I fynde;
For in his pursuit he hath lefft behynde, 6956
In destrucciouw off the, my child and me,
Routhe and al mercy and fadirli pite.
And the, my brother, auoidid from his siht,
Which in no wise his grace maist atteyne, 6960
Alas that rigour, vengaunce & cruel riht
6924.
6930.
6939-
6946.
6952.
6961.
me & the H. 6925. gilte] gile B, J, H.
that] which H,R 3. 6933. Nor] NarB.
tigre] any tigre B, H, J, R 3, H 5, P.
comparable] incomparable B, J, H 5.
my myschevis J. 6956. his] this H.
vengaunce Rigour H.
BK. i] Canace's Letter of Complaint 197
Sholde a-boue merci be lord &* souereyne!
But cruelte doth at me so disdeyne,
That thou, my brother, my child & also I 6964
Shal deie alas exiled* from al mercy.
Mi fader whilom, be many sundri signe, [p. 86] |[Our father
Was my socour, my supportacioun, nign and
rr> 1 1 -01 „ gracious to us,
10 the and me most gracieux & benygne, 6968 but now our
r\ 1JI* 1 J 1 ■ nameisjpotted
Uur worldli giadnesse, our consoiacioun. with slander.
But loue and Fortune ha[ue] turned up-so-doun To'^ISsh awfy.
Our grace, alas, our welfare & our fame.
Hard to recure, so sclaundrid is our name. 6972
Spot off diffamyng is hard to wasshe away,
Whan noise and rumowr abrod do folk manace;
To hyndre a man ther may be no delay:
For hatful fame fleeth ferr in ful short space. 6976
But off vs tweyne ther is non othir grace
Sauff onli deth, and afftir deth, alas,
Eternal sclaundre off vs; thus stant the cas.
Whom shal we blame, or whom shal we atwite 6980 "Whom shall
f^ ff . I . 1*1^ we blame but
Uur gret oirence, sithe we may it nat hide? the god Cupid,
For our excus reportis to respite
Mene is ther non, except the god Cupide.
And thouh that he wolde for vs prouide, 6984
In this mateer to been our cheeff refuge,
Poetis seyn he is blynd to been a iuge.
He is depeynt[e] lich a blynd archer, who i» blind
nr« t *i r "1 i* • 2nd knows not
lo marke anht lailyng discrecioun, 6988 where his
Holdyng no meseur, nouther ferr nor neer; arrows strike.
But lik Fortunys disposicioun,
Al upon happ, void off al resoun.
As a blynd archer with arwes sharp[e] grounde 6992
Off auenture yeueth many a mortal wouwde.
At the and me he wrongli dede marke, "He did wTong
Felli to hyndre our fatal auentures,
As ferr as Phebus shynyth in his arke, 6996
To make us refus to alle creatures,
Callid us tweyne onto the woful lures
Off diffame, which will departe neuere,
Be newe report the noise encresyng euere. 7000
6962. lorde &] ladl B, J, P, H 5, R 3.
6965. exiled alas B, J, H 5, P. 6968. gracious J, P, R 3, H 5.
6992. I grownde H. 6997. us] om. H.
to aim at us.
198
The Death of Canace
[bk. I
"Evil report
flies with swift
wings, and
good fame is
hindered by
envy. No
man complains
of his own
faults.
Odious fame with swifft wengis fleeth,
But al good fame en vie doth restreyne;
Ech man off other the diffautis seeth,
Yit on his owne no man will compleyne. 7004
But al the world out crieth on vs tweyne,
Whos hatful ire hi us may nat be queemyd;
For I mut deie, my fader hath so deemyd.
"Now I must Now farweel, brother, to me it doth suffise 7008
you for ever. To deie alloue for our bothe sake.
And in my moste feithful humble wise,
Onto my dethward thouh I tremble & quake,
Off the for euere now my leue I take. 7013
And onys a yeer, forget nat, but take heed,
Mi fatal day this lettre for to reed.
Have mind on So shaltow han on me sum remembrauwce,
Mi name enprentid in thi kalender, 7016
Bi rehersaile off my dedli greuauwce;
Were blak that day, & mak a doolful cheer.
And whan thou comest & shalt approche neer
Mi sepulture, I pray the nat disdeyne 7020
Vpon my graue sum we teris for to reyne."
^ Writyng hir lettir, awappid al* in dreede,
In hir riht hand hir pewne gan to quake;
And a sharp suerd to make hir herte bleede 7024
In his lefFt hand, hir fader hath hir take.
And most hir sorwe was for hir childes sake,
Vpon whos face in hir barm slepyng
Ful many a teer she wepte in compleynyng. 7028
AfFtir al this, so as she stood and quook,
Hir child beholdyng, myd off hir peynes smerte,
Withoute abood the sharp[e] suerd she took
And roofF hirselfF euene to the herte. 7032
Hir child fill doun, which myht[e] nat asterte,
Hauyng non helpe to socoure hym nor saue,
But in hir blood the silfF began to bathe.
Eoius then And thanwc hir fader, most cruel off entent, 7036
^thTtTh"e child Bad that the child sholde anon be take,
touid by Ifogs. Off cruel houndis in haste for to be rent
And be deuoured for his mooder sake.
me once a
year, wear
black that day
and do not
disdain to let
fall some tears
on my grave."
Her sorrow was
more for her
child than for
herself, and
with a sword
that her father
placed in her
hand she
pierced her
heart.
Off this tragedie thus an eende I make,
7040
7019. shalt] shal H. 7022. al] and B, J. 7024. a] om. H
7025. his] hir H. 7035. But] om. H, R 3.
BK.
I]
An Envoy on basty Vengeance
199
Processe off which, men may reede and see,
Concludith on myscheefF & furious cruelte.
Remembryng first, as maad is mencioun,
How that Pirrus delited hym in deede, 7044
Whan Troie was brouht to destruccioun,
With cruel suerd[e] Troian blood to sheede,
But of such slauhtr^, seeth heer the cruel meede,
As riht requereth, bi vnwar violence, 7048
Blood shad for blood is fynal recom pence.
This tragedy
tells of mis-
fortune and
furious cruelty,
which is pun-
ished in the
end.
Lenvoye.
WHAN surquedie oppressid hath pite, [p. 87]
And meeknesse is with tirannie bor doun
Ageyn al riht, &* hasti cruelte 7052
To be vengable maketh no dilacioun,
What folweth therofF? — be cleer inspeccioun,
Seeth an exaumple how Pirrus in his teene
Off hatful ire slouh yonge Polliceene. 7056
Kyng Eolus to rigerous was, parde.
And to vengable in his entencioun
Ageyn his childre Machaire & Canace,
So inportable was his punycioun, 7060
Off haste procedyng to ther destruccioun;
Wers in his ire, as it was weel seene.
Than cruel Pirrus, which slouh Polliceene.
Noble Pryncis, prudent and attempre,
Differrith vengaunce, off hih discrecioun;
Til your ire sumwhat asuagid be.
Doth neuer off doom non execucioun:
For hate and rancour perturben the resoun
Off hasti iuges, mor off entent oncleene
Than cruel Pirrus which slouh Polliceene.
9 Explicit liber primus.
9 Incipit prologus libri sectmdi.^
When pride
oppresses pity
against right,
and rigour
grants no
delay,
misfortune
follows.
King Eotus
was even
worse in his
rage than
Pyrrhus.
7064
7068
7070
Noble Princes,
always defer
vengeance
untU the heat
of your anger
is gone.
7047. slauhtrif seeth] om. H.
7052. Ageyn al riht &3 And ageyn riht B, H.
7061. haste] hasty H. 7062. his] om. H. 70&J. non] om.
H, R3.
^ The same rubric in MS. J. leaf 38 recto.
BOOK II
[PrologueJ
maTthfnk'that '^ I ^^ summc follc, parcas, it wolde seeme, [p. 87^]
I have told I Touchvng the chauwges & mutabilites
enough trage- JL t>' i • i i i • i i
dies, m me rehersid, that thei myhte deeme,
Off Fortunes strauwge aduersites 4
To pryncis shewed, douw pullid from ther sees.
The tragedies auhte inouh suffise
In compleynyng, which ye han herd deuise.
for it is de- The stori pitous, the processe lamentable, 8
pressing when -tt • , ^ . . 111 1* 1
no joy is Void otr loie, al gladnesse and* plesauwce,
mingled with . , " i • 1 1
pain, A thyng to greuous and to mportable,
Where-as no merthe is medlid with greuauwce,
Al upon compleynt standith thalliauwce, 12
Most whan Fortune, who that hir cowrs weel knewe,
Chaungith old ioie into sorwes newe.
whliTform^e^ ^" ^^^ ^^^^ ^Y"^ ^^^^ ncuet wiste ofF wo,
gladness is Remembtauwce ofF his old gladnesse, 16
turned into ^-j,, , . ,p o l
new sorrow. Whan his weeliare & plesauwce is ago.
And neuer aforn knew off non heuynesse, —
Such vnwar chaung, such vnkouth wrechidnesse
Causith in pryncis, thoruh newe dedli trouble, 20
AfFtir ther fallyng ther sorwes to be double.
But old exam- Qldc exauwples off pryncis that haruel fall,
pies of princes ,^ ^ rr- 111
who have fallen 1 het remembrauwcc on newe brouht to mynde,
teach all estates •» «■ . •11 -> •»
how to avoid May been a merour to estatis all, 24
How thei in vertu shal remedies fynde
Teschewe vices, off such as wer maad blynde.
Fro sodeyn fallyng hemsiluen to preserue,
Longe to contune and thank off God disserue.* 28
The ^aii of one The fall ofF on is a cleer lanterne
lantern to an- To teche a-nothet what he shal eschewe;
other, for m Ti 'i ly • i i ■
men deserve, so retell oit on, IS, who cau disccme,
wTrdedf "^^ Scoole and doctryn from pereil to remewe. 32
As men disserue such guerdouw ther mut sewe;
9. and] and al B, J, H 5.
14. chaungyng H — loies J, ioyes H 5, P.
20. Causid H. 24. to]ofH, R3.
28. disserue] to disserue B, J, P, H 5.
33. ther] om. J, H 5 — ther mut] mvt thei H.
200
BK. iQ
The Prologue
20 1
36
40
In vice nor vertu no man may God deceyue,
Lik ther desertis ther meede thei [shal] receyue.
Who folweth vertu lengest doth perseuere,
Be it in richesse, be it in pouerte;
Liht off trouthe his cleemesse kepith euere
Ageyn thassautis off al aduersite.
Vertu is cause off long prosperite;
And whan pryncis fro vertu doun declyne,
Ther fame is shroudid vndir the cliptik lyne.
For fals Fortune, which tumeth as a ball, [p, 88]
Off vnwar chaunges thouh men hir wheel atwite, 44
It is nat she that pryncis gaff the fall,
But vicious lyuyng, pleynli to endite:
Thouh God aboue ful offte hem doth respite,
Longe abidith, and doth his grace sende 48
To this entent, thei sholde ther liff amende.
For ther weelfare and ther abidyng longe.
Who aduertisith, dependith nat on chaunce.
Good liff and vertu maketh hem to be stronge, 52
And hem assureth in long perseuerauwce;
Vertu on Fortune maketh a diffiaunce.
That Fortune hath no domynacioun
Wher noble pryncis be gouerned be resoun.
But such as list[e] nat correctid be
Bexaumple off othre fro vicious gouemaunce.
And fro ther vices list nat for to fle:
Yiff thei be troubled in ther hih puissauwce,
Thei arette it Fortunys variaunce,
Touchyng the giltes that thei deden vse,
Ther demerites ful falsli to excuse.
Vertu conserueth pryncis in ther glorie *
And confermeth ther dominaciouns;
And vicis put ther price out off memorie.
For ther trespacis and ther transgressiouns.
And in alle such sodeyn mutaciouws,
Thei can no refut nor no bet socour,
But ageyn Fortune to maken ther clamour.
TTiose who fol-
low virtue
endure longest,
for virtue is
the source of
prosperity.
64
68
It is not
Fortuna who
causes princes
to fall, but
vicious living.
and Fortuna
has no
power over
princes who
are governed
by reason.
56
TThose who will
not learn to
abandon their
evil ways by
the example
- of others,
00 wrongly
ascribe their
fall to
Fortune's
variance,
and know no
better than to
make an
outcry against
her deceitfjl-
ness, as if
they them-
selves were
innocent.
35. shal] om. J, H 5.
44. vnwar] soden H — wheel] will H.
49. thei] J)at thei H.
63. ful] om.R — to] om. J, H 5. 64, 66, gloire, memoire B.
67. 2nd ther] om. H.
202 The Prologue [bk. ii
Make an outcri on hir doubilnesse,
As no gilt were in ther owne deede; 72
Thus ontreuli thei calle hir a goddesse,
Which lite or nouht may helpe at such a neede.
But yifF thei hadde God in loue & dreede,
Trustid his lordshep in herte, will & thouht, ' 76
Thei sholde Fortune pleynli sette at nouht.
Many stones Euidcncis ful cxpert and palpable,
have already •iiirr-V
been told, which 1 otom rehersid, told ott dyuers ages,
how they may WorldH glooe* veyu and ful onstable, 80
famng. ^ °' ^" With deceites double off ther visages,
Shewyng to pryncis ferme off ther corages,
Be these exaumples, how and in what wise
By othris* fallyng thei shal hemsilff chastise. 84
Comets, strange Signcs shewed and toknes in the heuene,
constellations, ° . 11 •
lightning and Dyuets cometis and constellaciouns,
rumbling of the Drecdful thundtyng, feerful firi leuene,
sig^ns bildfng Rumour in erthe and gret discenciouws, 88
blware and"' Disobeisauwce in sondry regiouns,
fiveTbefore'^it Shewen exauwples, ful weel afferme I dar,
is too late. Xo myhti pryncis, hem biddyng to be war,
Ther liff tamende or the Lord do smyte, 92
Thoruh necligence or it be to late;
And or the suerd off vengauwce kerue & bite.
Into vertues ther vicious liff translate,
Cherisshe rihtwisnesse, ageyn al wrong debate, 96
With dreed off God make hemsiluen stronger
Than is no doubte thei shal enduren longe.
Indurate the Who is nat wat bi othres chastisyng,
heart that cannot ^^ , i-i 111 'ii -""^
profit by the fate Uthre bi hym shal chastised be: loo
o ot ermen. f|^j.j jg jg ^j^^^. j^grte, which for no writyng.
For no dottryn nor non auctorite.
For non exauwple will from his vices flee;
To indurat is his froward entent, 104
Which wil nat suffre his hardnesse to relent.
Soft raindrops The touwde dropis off the smothe reyn,
•tones, Which that discende & falle from aloffte
80. gloire B — veyn] full veyn H.
83. how and in what wise]] full wele afferm? I dar^ H (but cor-
rected later).
84. By othris]] Bothris B — To myhti princis hem biddyng
to be warir H.
94. &3 or H. 100. shal chastised]] chastised shal H.
BK. Il]
The Prologue
203
On stonys harde, at eye as it is seyn, 108
Perceth ther hardnesse with ther fallyng ofFte,
Al-be in touchyng, water is but sofFte;
The percyng causid be force nor puissaunce,
But oflF fallyng be long contynuaunce. 112
Semblabli, ofF riht I dar reherse,
OfFte reedyng on bookis fructuous
The hertis sholde off prudent pryncis perse,
Synke in ther mynde & make hem vertuous 116
Teschewe all thynge that is vicious:
For what auaileth thexaumples that thei reede,
To ther reedyng yifF contraire be the deede ?
Cunnyng and deede, who can comprehende, 120
In cleer conceites thei be thynges tweyne;
And yifF cunnyng doth the deede amende,
Than atwen hem is maad a myhti cheyne,
A noble thyng, and riht souereyne: 124
For thanne ofF cunnyng the laboi^r is weel spent,
Whan deede folweth, & bothe been ofF assent.
Thus lohn Bochas procedyng in his book,
Which in noumbre is callid the secounde,
Gan for to write, and his purpos took
To sette in stories such as he hadde founde,
OfF entent alle vices to confounde
Be thexaumples which he dede expresse.
And at the gynnyng ofF his besynesse,
Myhti Saul to hym dede appeere,
Kyng ofF Israel, pitousli wepyng,
Dedli ofF face, and with an hidous cheere, 136
His vois I broke be manyfold sobbyng;
And to myn auctour his sorwe compleynyng,
Requeryng hym, togidre whan thei mette,
First in his book his woful fate to sette. 140
Anon afFtir, I ofF entencioun,
With penne in hande faste gan me speede,
As I koude, in my translacioun.
In this labour ferthere to proceede, 144
My lord cam forbi, and gan to taken heede;
and the fre-
quent reading
of good books
ought to make
princes
virtuous.
If actions are
governed by-
true knowledge
one's labour
is wdl q>ent.
[p. 89]
TTius John
Bochas begins
128 his Second
Book.
132
First Saul ap-
peared, begging
him, in a voice
broken by sobs,
to write his
story.
And whilst I
continued in
my translation,
my lord, IDuke
Humphrey,
came by and
bade me set an
envoy at the
end of each
126. ofTJatH, R3. 127. Thus] This H. 129. and] In H.
130. hadde] hath H.
136. an hidous] a pitouse H, a pitous R 3.
140. to] otn. H, R 3.
204 The Story of Saul ^bk. ii
This myhti prynce, riht manli & rlht wis,
GafF me charge in his prudent auys,
tragedy for the That I sholdc in eucri tragcdie, 148
of noble princes; AfFtif the pFocesse made menciouw.
At the eende sette a remedie,
With a lenvoie conueied be resoun,
And afftir that, with humble afFecciouw, 152
To noble pryncis lowli it directe,
Bi othres fallyng [thei myht] themsilfFcorrecte.*
And I obeied his biddyng and plesaunce,
Vnder support off his magnyficence. 156
As I coude, I gan my penne auaunce,
Al-be I was bareyn off eloquence,
Folwyng myn auctoMr in substaunce & sentence:
For it suffised, pleynli, onto me, 160
So that my lord my makyng took at gre.
^ Finis prologi libri secundi.
^ Sequitur liber secundus.
and, to please
my lord, I
obeyed, al-
though barren
of eloquence.
Saul was born
of the Ime of
Benjamin.
Once, when
seeking his
father's asses.
[How Saul, Kyng of lerusdem bom of low degre as
long as he dred god was obedient to him/ and
rewlid by good counsaile had many grete dis-
confitures/ but atte last/ for his pride presump-
cioun and grete disobysaunce/ he lost his crowne
and was slajna by Philestees.] ^
THIS said[e] Saul, of whom I spak toforn, [p. 91]
Ful weel compact & large of his stature,
Off the lyne of Bewiamyn eek born, 164
His fader Ceis was callid in Scripture,
Whos assis whilom lefFte* ther pasture; —
Space off thre daies Saul hadde hem souht,
Loste his labour and ne fond hem nouht.
a child For thei were gon out so ferr a-stray,
him to leave off So disscucred hc nc koude hem meete,
s^muef'" Til that a child hym suyng al the way
Gaff hym couwseil his labour for to lete,
And that he sholde gon to the prophete,
Which was ful famous holde in Israel,
Off whom the name was callid Samuel.
154. correcte] to correcte B.
166. leffte] lefften B, leften J, lost H.
1 MS. J. leaf 38 recto, as long] aslong J.
168
172
BK. Il]
The Story of Saul
Which Saul made in his hous to dyne, 176
Receyued hym ofFgret affeccioun;
And be precept & ordenaunce deuyne,
Samuel made no prolongacioun,
But shadde the hooli sacred vnccioun 180
Vpon the hed off Saul, doun knelyng,
And ful deuoutli off Israel made hym kyng.
Off goddis peeple to ha[ue] the gouernaunce.
With sceptre & crowne, and hool the regalie. 184
And his noblesse mor myhtili tauaunce,
With meek[e]nesse to reule his monarchie,
God gaiF to hym a sperit off prophecie.
Which was gret glorie* to his magnyficence, 188
Off futur thynges to haue prescience.
And whil that he was meek & humble in deede.
Void off pride and fals presumpcioun.
And prudent counsail with hym dede leede, 192
Hym to goueme bi good discrecioun.
He fond quiete thoruh al his regeoun;
No foreyn enmy durst hym tho werreye,
Whil he the Lord meekli dede obeie. 196
Non enmy myhte ageyn[e]s hym recure
Thoruh non enprises, but sore dede hym dreede; —
Made many gret disconfiture
Thoruh his force, knyhthod & manheede 200
On Philistes, and dauntid eek in deede
Too myhti kynges, the ton off Ammonytes,
And a-nother, that gouemed Moabites.
He was founde eek strong and victorious, 204
The Palestynes bryngyng to myschaunce;
Geyn Ydumes, so myhti and famous,
Thoruh his knyhtli prudent gouernaunce,
That he ther pride brouhte onto vttraunce, 208
Outraied hem off wisdam and manheede, —
Primo Reguw, as ye may pleynli reede.
He was a sone callid off o yeer.
In Israel whan his regne began, 212
Stable off herte and benygne off cheer,
Froward nor sturdi to no maner man.
Al that while loue off the peeple he wan,
179. no] no long H, noo longe R 3. 188. gloire B.
195- tho] to H, J, P, H s. 204. founde] om. H, R 3.
20?
who received
bim with affec-
tion and
anointed him
King of Itrael.
God gave Saul
a spirit of
prophecy.
and he ruled
with wisdom
and prospered
and was suc-
cessful against
his enemie*.
and defeated
among others
the Idumeans,
as you may
read in the
First Book of
Kings.
So long as he
remained kind
and stable of
heart, he kept
the love of his
people;
2o6 SauVs Pride and Wilfulness [^bk. ii
The tyme, I meene, whil he was iust & stable, 216
And in his werkis nat founde* variable.
but when he But whan that pride gan his herte enhauwce,
grew proud and - / °
wilful and no Wiltulnesse and lals malencolie
God, Outraied resoun, to ha[ue] the gouernaunce 220
OfF his olde famous policie,
And hadde forgetyn in his fantasie
To knowe the Lord & meekH sue his lawe,
God from his crowne his grace gan withdrawe. 224
God withdrew Thonkynde werm off foryetilnesse
him. In his herte hadde myned thoruh the wall,
Whan he to God, for his kynd[e]nesse,
Gaff no laude nor no thank attall, 228
Which hadde hym reised onto estat royall
Fro pore degre, mong al his kyn alone,
Be synguler fauour to sette hym in his throne.
What is more What thyng in herte mor froward mai be thouht 232
f reward than ,_p,, • i i r ^
the presump- 1 han IS the sodcyu rals presumpcioun
8u°ddeniy °°^ Off a wrechchc that cam vp off nouht,
powM?^° To yeue hym lordshepe and dominacioun.?
And for to make a pleyn comparisouw, 236
Men sholde off resoun dreede a leoun lasse
Than the reudnesse off a crownyd asse.
A lion is less What thyug to God is mor abhomynable
to be feared ,^, r, " . , ~ ,
than a crowned 1 han pride upreised out ort pouertc^ 240
And nothyng gladli is founde mor vengable
Than ar wrechchis set in hih degre:
For from his stok kynde may nat fle;
Ech thyng resortith, how ferr euer it go, 244
To the nature which that it cam fro.
reve^n ifui"thln ^^"^ ^"^ apples taken ther tarage [p. 92]
a wretch set in Whcr thei fitst grcuh off the same tre,
Every creature And scmblabH ech kyurcede & lynage — 248
inherited'* Onys a yeer it will non othir be —
nature. g^ tokuc OX signe, at eye as men may see,
Draweth comounli in eueri creature
Sum tech to folwen afftir his nature. 252
217. founde] founden B.
230. mong] among H, R 3. 238. "marke thys," in a later
hand, arid a line drawn in margin opposite the following four
and a half stanzas in J.
239. is morf to god H. 242. ar] er H. 245. the] ther H.
BK. Il]
The Beginning of SauVs Misfortunes
207
I write nat this in rebuk off pouert;
But for suche onli as that it disserue:
God off his myht, as men be weel expert.
May hem in vertu encresen and conserue, 256
From al myscheeff a poore man preserue,
Reise hem on heihte to dominaciouns
Thoruh hih noblesse off ther condiciouns.
Be influence God may his grace sheede
Wher he fynt cause onli be meeknesse,
A poore man to reise hym vp in deede
Onto thestat off vertuous noblesse;
For out off vertu cometh al gentilesse.
In poore and riche mak non excepcioun,
But hem comende lik ther condicioun.
A poore man which that is vertuous
And dredith God in his pouerte, 26S
Ech thyng eschewyng that is vicious,
And to his power doth trouthe & equite, —
I dar riht weel, what-euer that he be,
Puttyng no rebuk onto his kynreede, 272
But calle hym gentil veraili in deede.-
But kyng Saul was contrarious,
Disobeisaunt founde in his werkyng,
WTian God made hym to be victorious 276
On Amalech, where Agag was kyng,
Hym comaundyng* to spare no maner thyng,
Man nor woman, beeste nor child socoure.
But that his suerd sholde al quyk thyng deuoure. 280
But Saul wrouhte al in other wise,
Ech thyng reseruyng that was fair to siht;
And off entent to make a sacrefise,
Afftir his victorie* he shoop hym anon riht, 284
Fattest beestis he ches, & hath hem diht
Toward the fir to maken his offryng.
And fro deth he spared Agag the kyng.
He was repreued afftir of Samuel, 288
To Godis biddyng for he was contraire,
As abiect to regne in Israel,
I cast no slur
on poverty: I
blame those
only who de-
serve reproof.
260 God may raise
a poor man to
nobility, for
all gentility
comes from
virtue,
264
and a poor
man who is
upright and
fears God can
only be called
gentle.
But Saul was
disobedient
when God bade
him massacre
the Amalekitet
and destroy
all their
possessions.
He even spared
the life of
Agag their
king.
Reproved by
Samuel, his
power of fore-
seeing failed.
257. do pr«<rrve H. 258. on] of H.
261. fyndith R 3, findeth P. 262. to] om. H.
271. I dar riht weel] I dar say H, R 3, P.
278. comaundyng] comaundid B, J. 284. victoire B, J.
2o8 Saul and David []bk. il
and he was That al good hoDC III hvm gan disespaire;
tormented by ^^. ° , . *^ , Ti o •
an evU spirit. His gracc, his myht gan pallen & appaire, 292
His prophecie afFtir hath hym failed.
And with a feend he was also trauailed.
Thus Fortune Thus from hif wheel Fortune cast hym doun,
cast him down, aiii r ^ • • ^
and God trans- Aualed hym irom his roial see; 296
to^ David""'^" And God also took awey the crown,
Bothe from hym and his posterite,
And set up Dauid for his humilite.
Loo, how the Lord his doomys can deuyde 300
Tenhaunce meeknesse and tabate pryde!
Saul was Saul cudured in his frenesle,
jealous of David . ., i t • i 11 "i
because he slew A wikkcd Spent SO sorc hym dede assaile;
oniy^a sraff- Onto Dauid euer he hadde envie, 304
sling, That he was hardi tentren in bataile, —
With a stafslynge, void off plate & maile,
Slouh Golias, withoute feer or dreed,
Pulled out his suerd[e] & smet off his hed. 308
and when At thet rcpairyng hom out off the feeld,
Fa"vid'8 praises. Whan Dauid hadde slay[e]n this Golie,
Yonge maidnes whan [that] thei beheeld
The grete victory, thei in ther armonye 312
In laude off Dauid thus gan synge & crie:
"Saul hath slayn a thousand thoruh his myht,
Dauid ten thousand, the lusty yonge knyht!"
Saul felt angry gaul disdcyned and seide frowardli, 316
and conspired "Thei grauwtid han a thousand to my name,
David's death. ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ y^^j
Youe ten thousand to encrece* his fame,
Which is to me a rebeuk and a shame." 320
Wherupon this Saul, fret with ire.
Off yonge Dauid gan the deth conspire.
He knew in hi» Jn his herte he hadde a fantasie
singing was Off ther syngyug whan that he took heed^, 324
prophetic. Dempte it was a maner prophecie.
That Dauid sholde preferrid be in deed^
And to the crowne afftir hym succeed*?.
Thouhte his childre, as he gan dyuyne, 328
Sholde be depryued off the roial lyne.
294. alsoTom. H.
317. hanJhaveH. 319. to encrece] tencrece B, H, J.
319, 20 are transposed in R 3.
BK. Il]
Saul and David
209
Thus day be day Saul weies souhte [p. 93]
To sle[en] Dauid, pleynli yifF he myhte,
Al-be-it so that he no malice thouhte, 332
But euer kept hym lowli in his sihte.
Therfore good eure & grace on hym alihte;
For ay the Lord off his magnyficence
Ageyn tirantis preserueth innocence. 336
And as the Bible pleynli doth us lere.
This Dauid hadde in his tendre age
For his noblesse the kyngis doubter deere,
Callid Michol, ioyned be manage. 340
And whan that Saul fill in any rage,
Dauid anon, tasswagen his woodnesse,
Touchid his harpe & brouht him in gladnesse.
Saul ful ofFte gan Dauid to enchace
And werreie thoruhout all his londis,
Thoruh desertis hym pursue & manace.
Off entent tashet hym up in bondis
Or taslaie hym, yilF he com in his hondis.
But fynali God thoruh his ordynaunce
Preserued his knyht from al maner myschaunce.
Saul ful ofFte was brouht to myscheefF,
Yit ay fro deth[e] Dauid dede hym saue;
And heeroff this was a special preefF,
Whan Dauid kitte his garnement in the caue.
And mo toknys yiff ye list to haue.
Another tyme Dauid also kepte 356
The liff off Saul, whan he lay & slepte.
The cas was this: as thei lay hosteieng
Nat ferr assonder, and Saul lay and sleeps,
Al his peeple aboute[n] hym slepyng, 360
And onpurueied lik a flok off sheep*? ;
Off which[e] thyng Dauid took good keep^,
Doun descendid, and made no delay.
Cam to the tente wher kyng Saul lay. 364
The spere off Saul stondyng at his bed,
Dauid took it and wente his way anon;
Off his comyng ther was no man took heed,
David had no
envy of Saul,
and was
married to hit
daughter
Michal;
■,.4 but Saul
"'"*^ constantly
pursued
him.
348
although
David often
352 spared his
life.
and once
entered his
unguarded
tent
and carried
off his spear,
while Saul
and his men
slept.
334. ahhte] hath liht H. 345. thoruhout] thoruh H, R 3.
348. tasslayn H, to haue slevn R 3. 354. garment H, P.
359. and] om. H. 361. lik] lik as H.
366. his way] away H.
2IO Saul and David Qbk. ii
For Saul slepte and his men echon. 368
And whan that he vp to the hill was gon,
Toward Saul ageyn he cast his look,
Made a noise that all his knyhtes wook.
David then First to Abnor, prynce off his cheualrie, 372
woke them and y-v • i • i i t •
toidAbner Dauid scide these woordis in sentence:
"Abnor," quod he, "thou hast doon gret folie,
This day shewed a gret necligence,
To suffre off Saul the magnyficence 376
In pereil stonde, and non heed [to] take,
Aboute his persone to make his knyhtis wake.
iseen recWess of Xhou art to blame for thi reklesnesse,
and deserved To leue the kyng stoudc in so gret zf dreed^, 380
death and tor- , i i o
ture for his In slcp to haue mor sauour & suetnesse
carelessness. ^j^^^ ^^ j^j^ jj^ ^^^^.^ ^^ ^^j^^^^ j^^^j^^
Such necligence requereth for his meed<f
Deth and torment, be rihtful iuggement, 384
Aboute a prynce whan folk be necligent.
"See, here is And yiff thou list to secn an euidence,
nLVbdievr'' How that his lifF stood in iupartie,
Jou were'"^^ See heer his spere, & yifF therto credence, 388
How onprouyded ye were on your partie, —
Saul nor thou, ye may it nat denye,
Your lifF, your deth, your power, your puissaunce
This day God put hool in my gouernauwce. 392
"But I have But me taquiten off pur innocence,
aglfnst°h1mjas As eueri man sholde onto his kyng,
God knows." ^^j ^^ declare in me was non offence
Ageyn his noblesse in will nor in werkyng, 396
As God weel wot, that knoweth euery thyng,
That I neuer be no conspiracie
Wrouhte nor compassid ageyn his regalie."
Thus David Loo, hecr exaumple off parfit pacience 4°°
returned good j^^^^^ malice to shcwc kynd[e]nesse!
Wher Saul shewed his mortal violence,
Dauid aquit hym with suffraunce & goodnesse.
The tirant venquysshid bi his prudent meeknesse.404
Men ageyn trouthe may weel a werre gynne.
But at the eende the palme he doth ay wynne.
382. for]ofn. P, R 3- „
391. power your puissaunce] puyssau«ce your power H.
392. governeer H. 394. onto] to H.
BK. Il]
Saul and the Witch of Endor
For off this story yiff that ye take heed,
Saul is falle for his frowardnesse
Into myscheeff and into sodeyn dreed;
For Philistees, the Bible berth witnesse,
With a gret power gan ther wardis dresse
Vpon kyng Saul auenged for to be,
Ther tentis pihte beside Gelboe.
Wheroff kyng Saul, astonj-d in his herte,
Hadde lost his sperit off knyhtli hardynesse,
And speciali whan he dede aduerte
Prophete was non his harmys to redresse,
Off futur thynges trouthe to expresse
In Israel, which cast hym in gret dreed.
Because that tyme Samuel was ded.
For Saul hadde cast out alle dyuynes
From Israel and ech dyuyneresse,
Nat-withstandyng [that] the Palestynes
Were rise ageyn, his power to oppresse;
And he ne knew no maner sorceresse
Off whom he myhte any counseil take.
And he off God that tyme was forsake.
In this wise he stood disconsolat,
Counseil off God nor prophete kneuh he non,
But lik a man most infortunat,
Ongraciousli he spedde hym foorth anon,
And secreli this Saul is foorth gon
To a woman that sholde hym reede and wisse,
In Israel callid a phetonysse.
Which is a name, as clerkis writen all.
And office, who that takith heede,
Soulis off men ageyn to clepe & call —
I meene such[e] that toforn wer dede —
Which is a thyng straunge for to reede.
That any woman sholde, who list to lere,
Make soulis of dede men appeere.
408
412
211
and Saul,
finally attacked
by the Phili»-
tines, at
Gel boa,
[P- 94]
416
420
424
428
432
436
became afraid;
and as he had
eiiled all the
propheti and
diviners, and
Samuel was
dead,
he went to a
woman
called in
Israel a
pythoness.
who could call
the souls of
dead men back
to earth, which
is a very
strange thing,
440
407. yiff that ye take"] who that takith H.
413. Ther] The H.
423. that] om. H, J, P, H 5, R 3.
430. lik]om. J.
433. that] which H.
434. Phitonesse H,
438. that] as H.
441. appeere] tappeere H, to apper R 3, to appere P.
212 Saul is told his Fate [^bk. ii
and, as it seems Vnlcouth & straungc is thcF opynvoun,
to me, not . ° . ^■' -f '
according to And to my Witt a maner inpossible,
reason, that an ■» -r ■• i
invisible thing IN at accordyng, me semeth, to resoun, 444
to°b!^iiy^''ey"s. Not Hk a thyng which that is credible,
That a soule, off nature inuisible,
Mihte appeere or shewe visibly
Onto eyen which that be bodily. 448
?choiir»\'nd'*' But or that I any ferthere flitte,
divine* List I Were holde to presumptuous,
To dyuynys this mater I comwytte
And wise clerkis that be vertuous, 452
In ther wittis subtil and corious
To conclude, as it doth hem seeme,
In this mater a trouthe for to deeme,
decide whether Whethit it was the soule off Samuel, 456
of Samuel or Ot Other spcrit, that she dede call,
sph^i^t wh"toid Which that tolde the kyng ofF Israel
Off the bataile that sholde afFtir fall.
His auenturis and his myscheuys all. 460
And off his deth he tolde also in deede.
And how Dauid sholde afFtir hym succeede,
Saul, that for Bccause onli ofF his disobeisauwce,
his disobedience ... . i r i • i
he should die in As it IS writc, and tor his reclesnesse, • 464
Ph"istinL and On Amalech for he took nat vengaunce.
by Davld'^^'^ Thus the sperit bar to hym witnesse.
Whereoff Saul fell in gret heuynesse,
Knowyng no mene tescape out ofF this doute, 468
But take his fortune as it cometh aboute.
Tolde hym also his enmyes were so wroth,
The Philistees beside Gelboe,
In that bataile he and his childre both 472
Sholde deie that day, ofF necessite;
His cheualrie shal sconfited be,
OfF his regne there is no lengere date.
For God horn hym his kyngdam will translate. 476
After his defeat, And thus Saul retoumed is agayn,
Saul bade his ^. ~, . , , .. f.
squire run him His meync afttir brouht to disconhture.
heart,^ * "^ And whan he sauh al his peeple slayn,
And how ther was no mene to recure 480
In that dedli woful auenture,
443. Impossible H. 44.7. or] & H, nor J.
449. or] er H. 455] tor in this mater; I can nat deeme H.
BK. Il]
The Death of Saul
213
He bad his squier take his suerd as blyue,
And thoruh the herte that he sholde hym rj'^ue,
That his enmyes, which were oncircumsised, 484
Sholde ha[ue] no power, in story it is founde,
To falle vpon hym as thei han deuised,
To yeuen hym his laste fatal wounde,
His hih noblesse at myscheeff to confounde. 488
But his squyer, for feer of God and dreed,
Wold nat assente to doon so foul a deed;
To slen his lord he gretli was afFerd,
A thyng hatful in eueri manys siht. 492
But Saul took the pomel off his suerd.
And in the ground ful deepe anon it piht;
And in al hast possible that he myht,
Made the poynt, in his furious peyne, 496
To perce his herte & parte euene on tweyne.
The Philistees, anon as he was ded, [p. 95]
Spoiled hym off his roial armure,
Dismembrid hym and smet off his hed,
And in tokne off ther disconfiture
Took the spoiles with al ther besi cure
And therofF made, in al ther beste entent,
To Astaroth* off pride a gret present.
Thus was Saul slay[e]n in sentence
Off Philistees vpon Gelboe,
Forsake off God for inobedience,
Abiect also doun from his roial see: 508
And thus for lakkyng off humylite.
Off God he was for euere set a-side.
Loo, heer the eende off surquedie & pride!
so that he
should not fall
into the hands
of his foes; but
the squire
dared
not kill him,
and Saul had
to fall on his
own sword,
500
504
and was des-
poiled and
dismembered
by the
Philistines.
Thus Saul, for-
saken by God
for disobedi-
ence, was cast
down from his
throne and
slain.
9 Lenvoy^.
HATH mynde on Saul, which to estat roiall
Fro louh degre was callid for meeknesse;
But pr^sumpcioun made hym haue a fall.
Off God abiect for his frowardnesse,
Loste his crowne, the Bible berth witnesse.
And cause was, for his disobeisaunce;
To Godis biddyng he gaff non attendaunce.
483.
499-
that] om. H.
ofiG & of H.
495 al] the H.
504. Astraoth B, J.
512
516
Remember the
fate of Saul,
who rose from
low degree and
lost his crown
for disobedi-
ence.
514. to have H.
214
Bochas' Praise of Obedience
[bk.
II
God asks of us God nat axeth no mor off man att all
only an honest „ , ,r , , . , it.,
heart, but he Cut nool[ej hcrtc withoute doubilnesse, 520
who disobey FoF allc the glfftcs, which in especiall
He gaff to man off his hih goodnesse;
But he chastisith al onkynd[e]nesse,
Such as be rebel for to do plesaunce, 524
And to his biddyng ne yeue non attendaunce.
Noble Princes, Noble Pryncis, vertu most pryncepall
II you would -- •' . I •] 1 1
keep your You to consetue m your hih noblesse,
crowns, be just t . . ,,
and obey God. Is to cnptente m yout memoriall 528
Feith, equite, alle wrongis to redresse,
To susteene trouthe and rihtwisnesse,
And tofor God holdeth euenli the balaunce,
And to his biddyng yeueth hool your attendaunce. 532
Virtue of Vir-
tues is true
obedience.
Without it all
worldly policy
were destroyed,
Where
discretion
rules without
wilfulness, the
people should
obey their
princes.
Obedience
brings welfare,
joy and prosper-
ity to all
lands:
^ The comendacion of Bochas oppon the vertu of
obedience.^
VERTU off vertues, most off excellence,
Which that hath most souereyn suifisauwce,
Is the vertu off trewe obedience.
Which set all thynge in rihtful gouernauwce:
For ne v^^er nat this prudent ordenauwce,
Sumwe tobeie and sum^we aboue to guie,
Destroied were al v^^orldli policie.
Where that vertu and hih discreciouw
Auoided han from hem al w^ilfulnesse.
Be title onli off domynacioun,
Trew^li lyuyng vpon rihtv\^isnesse,
Wrong and errours iustli to redresse.
Off trouthe I may riht weel afferme & seie.
The peeple meekli ther biddyng sholde obeie.
This noble vertu off feithful obeisaunce,
• Establisshid vpon humylite,
Which includith no double variauwce.
In all regeouws and in ech contre
Causeth v^eelfare, ioie and prosperite;
And as vertu, cheeff and souereyne,
Al vicious riot it pleynli doth restreyne.
519. of man no more H. This stanza is transposed with the
next tn R J. 526. vertu] of yertu. H.
528. Is to] It is (Emprent) H. 531. holdeth] hold P.
541. have H. 546. sholde] did H. 553. riot] root H.
^ "A commendacioun," etc., MS. J. leaf 40 a, otherwise agreeing
with B.
536
S40
544
548
552
BK. II.]
Bochas' Praise of Obedience
21
Obedience eek, as men may see,
Falsnesse exilith and al rebellioun;
For hi atempraunce,* riht and equite 556
Stant the weelfare off eueri regeoun :
For the meeknesse and low subieccioun
Off comountes halt up the regalies
Off lordshepes & off all monarchies. 560
And, no doubte, whan lordshepes off entent
Besi been the souereyn Lord to queeme.
To ther subiectis do rihtful iugement.
In conscience as riht and resoun deeme, 564
Than shal ther crowne and [ther] diadeeme
Vpon ther hed perseuere & fresshli shyne,
And make subiectis to her biddyng enclyne.
Thus obeisauwce pleynli at a woord,
In such as han lordshepe and souereynte,
Doon off entent to ther souereyn Lord,
Shal cause hem regne in long prosperite,
And ther subiectis off humylite,
For ther noble famous gouernaunce,
Ay to be redy vnder ther obeisaunce.
For who that serueth the Lord off Lordis all, [p.
And hath the peeple in his subieccioun,
God will keepe hym that he shal nat fall,
Longe preserue his domynacioun;
But ageynward, whan wisdam and resoun
Been ouermaistried with sensualite,
Farweel the floures off ther felicite!
Obedience bluntith the sharpnesse
Off cruel suerdis in tirantis hondis.
And meeknesse appesith the felnesse 584
Off hasti vengaunce, brekith atoo the bondis;
Eek pacience set quyete in londis:
And where these thre contune in comountes,
Long pes perseuereth in kyngdames & cites. 588
Obedience doth also restreyne
Conspiracies and fals coUusiouns;
Whan she stant onpartid, nat on tweyne,
556. batempraunce B.
565. 2nd ther] om. J, H 5, P. 567. enclyne] declyne H.
568. Thus] This H. 569. han] have H.
576. peeplis H. 586. settith R 3, setteth P.
588. in] om. H, R 3, P.
it excludes de-
ceit and re-
bellion;
and when
princes are
zealous to
please God
and do right,
they shall
keep their
crowns.
rgg and their
subjects will
obey them.
572
9 6] The ruler who
seri-es God
576 shall not fall.
580
Obedience,
humility, and
patience in
princes bring
peace to their
realms
and restrain
conspiracies.
2l6
Bochas' Praise of Obedience
[bk. II
Subjects are
not rebellious
to princes who
honour God.
But Saul was
put down for
his obstinacy.
As it is incum-
bent on kings
to rule benevo-
lently, so do
obedience and
reverence ap-
pertain to their
subjects, and
there is neither
obedience nor
unity when
subjects pre-
sume against
their princes.
There is no dreed off no discenciouns:
For she combyneth the trewe opynyouws
In peepHs hertis, ful weel aforn prouyded,
Vnder pryncis to stonde hool ondeuyded.
Wher pryncis be meek, humble & debonaire
Towardis God off hool afFecciouw,
Ther subiectis be gladli nat contraire
In ther seruise be no rebellious;
For ther is fouwde no deuysioun,
But bed & membris, ech for his partie,
Be so gouerned be prudent policie.
Contrariousli Saul was put douw,
Abiect off God for his obstynacie,
Put from his sceptre, his crowne, his regeouw,
Off Israel loste al the monarchie,
For he list nat make off his alie,
Off frowardnesse and wilful necligence,
This noble vertu callid obedience.
For as it longith in kyngdamys & citees,
Vnder a keye off on benyuolence,
Pryncis, kynges to gouerne [in] ther sees,
So apperteneth deu[e] reuerence
To ther subiectis bi obedience,
Tobeie ther lordis, as thei been off degre,
Be title off riht in eueri comouwte.
For obelsauwce, iff it be discernyd
With Argus eyen, who that taketh heed.
As riht requereth is nat weel gouernyd.
Whan the membris presume ageyn the bed,
Off gouernauwce ther is no parfit speed;
From vnyte thei gon a froward weie.
Whan subiectis ther pryncis disobeie.
592
596
600
604
608
612
616
620
The young
King Reho-
boara, son of
Solomon,
[How kyng Roboam for gevyng feith to yonge
counsaile lost the beneuolence of his peple and
deied a fool.] ^
ONTO lohn Bochaj in ordre next ther cam,
With ful gret dool and lamentacioun,
The yonge kyng callid Roboam,
605. 3r(l his] & his H. 610. in] to H.
617. obeisauMce] obedience H — discernyd] descrived H.
1 MS. J. leaf 40 recto.
624
BK, li]
The Life of Rehohoam
217
Sone and next heir to Salamoun,
Entryng be title off iust successioun, 628
Besouhte myn auctour to make ofF his folic
And off his fallyng a pitous tragedie.
First whan he entred into his regeoun,
Twelue tribus gouernyng in deede, 632
Rewlid hymsilfF be will and no resoun,
Kepte his subiectis pleynli, as I reede,
Nat vnder loue but vnder froward dreede;
OfF olde wise, to his gret disauail, 636
He despised the doctryn and counsail.
He demened, as it is weel kouth,
His sceptre, his crowne and his regalie
Be such folk as floured in her youth, 640
Coude off custum ther wittis weel applie
To bleende hym falsli with ther flat[e]rie,
Which is a stepmooder callid in substauwce
To al vertu and al* good gouernaunce. 644
Alas, it is gret dool and gret pite.
That flat[e]rie sholde haue so gret fauour.
Which bleendith princis that they may nat see,
Mistith the eyen off eueri gouernour, 648
That thei can nat knowe her owne errour,
Fals hony shad ay on ther sentence.
A fool is he that yeueth to hem credence.
Thei may be callid the deuehs taboureris, 652
With froward sownys eris to fulfille;
Or oflF Circes the pereilous boteleris.
Which galle and hony [togedir] doun distille,
WTios drynkes been bothe amerous & ille, 656
And, as clerkis weel deuise cunne,
Wers than the drynkes off Cirenes tunne.
Eris off pryncis ful weel thei can enoynte [p. 97]
With the soffte oile off adulacioun, 660
And ther termys most subtili appoynte,
Ech thyng concludyng with fals decepcioun,
Ay blandisshyng with amerous poisoun;
640. her] om. H. 644. 2nd al] to al B, H, R 3, H 5.
652. taboumer« H, taberoures R 3, tabourers P.
654. butlers P. 655. togedir] om. J.
659. Anoynte H.
besought my
author to t«5l
the tragedy
of his faU.
Even when he
first came to
the throne he
despised the
counsel of
wise men
and followed
the advice of
youthful flat-
terers.
to whom only
fools give
credence;
for such may
be called the
devil's tam-
bourineuTS,
who din evil
into men's
subtle of
speech, and
always ending
with
deception.
21 8 Rehoboam's Folly [bk. ii
And fynali, as the poete seith, 664
Ther feith off custum concludith with onfeith.
they flower in Flourving in woordis, thouh ther be no frut,
words without --^ , , ^— i i rr i
fruit and are UouDie ott heftc, plesauwt oit language,
trathf ° Off trewe menyng void and destitut, 668
In mustryng outward pretende a fair visage:
Who trusteth hem fyndeth * smal auauntage,
Be apparence & glorious fressh shewyng
Pryncis deceyuyng & many a worthi kyng. 672
as Rehoboam Roboam * Can here ful weel witnesse,
can well bear _^ , . . r 1 1 • i
witness. T rom hym auoidyng tolkis that were trewe,
How he was hyndred be flatrie & falsnesse
Be hem that coude forge out tahs newe; 676
Whos couwseil afftir sore dede hym rewe.
And with ther feyned fals suggestions
GretH abreggid his dominaciouw.
Of fooiy youth He dempte hymsilff off more auctorite, 680
tionheTeheved Off foH youthe and off presumpciouw,
thTnhisTather, Than was his fader in al his * rialte.
And this pompous fals opynyouw
Cam into his conceit bi adulaciouw; 684
For flatereris bar to hym witnesse.
How he excellid his fadres hih noblesse.
and oppressed He dede gret rigour and oppressions
And when they Vpon his peeple, as it was weel preued; 688
relfeTfrpm And thei to fynde sum mytigaciouw
their tributes, j^^ matetis which that han hem greued,
Off ther tributis for to be releued,
Besouhte he wolde relece hem in ther neede: 692
But al for nouht; he took theroff non heede.
he set aside Al old coussail from hym he sette a-side
seu^paw"" And refusid ther doctryn and ther lore;
no mention to ^^^ ^^ ^^j^ cOUSSail off folkis ful off pride, 696
His poore liges he oppressid sore.
And ten kynredis anon, withoute more,
For tiranwye and for mysgouernausce
From hym withdrouh ther trouthe & legeauwce. 700
670. fyndeth] fynt B, J, H.
673. RoboamJ Roboan B, J (Roboam H, R 3, H 5, P).
682. al his] his gret B, gret J. 684. into] to H.
686. fadres hih noblesse] fadir in fairnesse H. 690. have H.
694. he] to H, R 3.
BK. Il]
Rehohoam and the Ten Tribes
219
Thus off the kyng conceyued the rigour,
The peeple anon off indignacioun
Stooned Adoram, which was collectour
Off the tributis in al his regeoun;
From hym departyng hi rebellioun.
Wheroff astonyd, tauenge his gret onriht,
Into Iherusalem took anon his fliht.
And whan thei were partid from Roboam,
The ten kynredis be dyuysioun
Ches hem a kyng callid leroboam.
And Roboam, withynne his roial toun.
To been auengid on ther rebellioun
And for to doon on hem cruel iustise,
An hundred thousand he made anon tarise.
With leroboam he caste hym for to meete,
And al attonys sette in iupartie;
But Semeias* the prophete bad hym lete,
And from the werre withdrawen his partie.
And mor the quarel for to iustefie,
Off his peeplis froward departyng,
It was Godis will doon for a pun[y]shyng.
Touchyng the surplus off his gouemaunce,
His roial beeldyng off many fair cite.
His grete riche famous suffisaunce.
Off wyn and oile hauyng gret plente.
And how his empire encrecid yeres thre,
Eek how that tyme he rihtful was in deede,
In Josephus his story ye may reede.
Off his childre bom in the riht[e] lyne,
Eihtene wyues, as maad is mencioun,
I fynde he hadde, and many concubyne,
Sonys and douhtris be procreacioun;
And how his richesse and gret pocessioun
That tyme encreced, as it is weel knowe,
To God a-boue whil that he bar hym lowe.
But, as this auctour maketh rehersaile.
In his encres and augmentacioun,
Meeknesse off herte in hym gan waste & faile,
706. gret] h^ne H. 707. took anon] he tooke H.
708. departid H. 714. to rise H.
717. Semeias] Rameus B, H, J, R 3 H 5.
737. Aumentacioun H. 738. waste &] om. H.
704
708
712
716
720
724
So ten tribes
arose, stoned a
tax collector
named Adoram
and renounced
their
allegiance.
Rehoboam fled
to Jerusalem.
The ten tribes
chose
Jeroboam
king.
Rehoboam
raised an armf
of 100,000,
but Shemaiah
advised him
to withdraw.
For the rest,
his story is
told in
Josephus.
728
He had
eighteen
wives and
many concu-
bines and a
profusion
732 of children.
njg but lost his
meekness of
heart and be-
came vicious;
220 The Chastising of Rehoboam [bk. ii
And pride entrld with fals presumpcioun,
Vertu dispisyng and al relegeouw; 740
AfFter whos vices, as seith the same book,
Wikkid exauwple off hym the peeple took.
and the people. AfFter the mancrcs, wher thei be good or ille, f p. 08]
as always hap- -rj - ■, ry ... ° 'li-^j
pens, followed Vsid oit pryncis m dyuers regeouws, 744
ample. The pecple is redy to vsen and fulfille
Fulli the traces off ther condiciouws:
For lordis may in ther subiecciouws.
So as hem list, who-so can taken heede, 748
To vice or vertu ther subiectis leede.
So he was Thus Roboam for his transgressiouws,
chastised by _. _ , . . . . S'
God, In losephus as it is deuised.
And for his froward fals opynyouns, 752
Onli for he al vertu hath despised,
Off God he was rihtfully chastised:
In Jerusalem his cheeff roial toun
Off his enmyes besegid envirouw. 756
besieged in his The kyng off Egipt a sege aboute hym laide
capital by the ._,. , "^ ° 11 1
king of Egypt, With SO gtet peeple, that socowr was ther non,
Al-be-it so that Roboam abraide
And preied God delyuere hym from his fon, 760
Tauoide off merci his enmies euerichon.
But God list nat to granten his praiere,
But hym chastised, lik as ye shal heere.
and finally First his cite and his noble toun 764
him together Delyuered was, he knew no bet socour,
with all the xt j r j r i • •
treasure of the Vudcr a teyned tals composiciouw;
temple. Yqx at ther entryng, void off al fauour,
Kepyng no couenant, took al the tresour, 768
Withynwe the temple hauyng no pite.
But ladde it hom to Egipt ther contre.
Rehoboam was And to teherse, it is a gret[e] dool,
fool, and I'll How Roboam, as losephus doth declare, 772
dL ilThiT ^" Was inli proud and therwithal a fool,
folly. ^j^j qIP ^I wisdam destitut and bare,
Onmerciable his peeple for to spare,
Hatyng good counsail, and so in his folie 776
Regnyng a fool; and so I lete hym deie.
750. R begins again here. 758. With] And R.
761. Tauoide] Avoide R.
766. fals] om. R. 770. it] hym R — ther] that R.
771. a grete] to gret a H, R 3, so gret a H 5.
BK.
n]
An Envoy on foolish People
221
[Lenvoye.J
PHILISOPHRES concluden and deuise
In ther bookis off old* experience,
That counseiIot^r[e]s sad, expert & wise,
Trewe off ther woord, stable off ther sentence,
Hasti nor rakel for no violence,
Keepe & preserue, the trouthe I dar attame,
Noblesse off pryncis fro myscheeff & diffame.
Hasty* youthe and rancour in contrari wise,
Which han to will[e] al ther aduertence.
Except hemsilff all othir men despise
Thoruh ther onbridled furious insolence,
Nothyng aqueyntid with wisdam nor prudence,
Brynge ageynward, wherofF thei be to blame,
Noblesse of princis* in myschefF & difFame.
Kyng Roboam, ageyn riht and iustise,
To yonge foolis gaff feith & most credence,
Crueli his subiectis to chastise;
Which put his peeple from his benyuolence,
Drouh* ten kynredis from his obedience,
Which was to hym, be record, ful gret shame,
Puttyng his noblesse in myschefF & difFame.
Noble Prjmcis, doth wisli aduertise,
In preseruyng* ofF your magnyficence,
OfF olde expert nat blent with couetise
Taketh your counseil and doth hem reuerence,
Eyed as Argus in ther hih prouidence,
Which conserue be report ofF good name
Noblesse ofF pryncis from myscheefF & difFame.
Wise counsellors
preserve princes
from mischief.
780
784
but hasty
youth and ran-
cour bring them
to destruction.
788
yQ2 Kjd8 Reho-
boam, advised
by young fools,
treated his
subjects badly
and drove
them to re-
bellion.
796
Noble Princes,
take your
800 counsel of
old and expert
advisers, who
are not blinded
by covetout-
ness.
804
[A Chapitle/ descryuyng how prynces beyng hedis of
ther comountees sholde haue noble cheualrie true
luges &€* ther commounte to goueme &c*.]^ v\'hat is more
WHAT ertheli thyng is mor deceyuable, thTpomp^nd
Than ofF pryncis the pompe & veynglorie,* pr^c^?"'' ^
779. old] good B. 782. nor] ne R. 785. Hasty] Haste B, J, R 3.
786. have H. 787. all] & H. 789. nor] & H. 790 Br>nge] benyngne H.
791. Noblesse of princis] Piitt>-ng his noblesse B, P, J, H 5,
Putt>Tig ther noblesse H, Puttvng her noblesse R 3.
796. Drouh] Thoruh B, through P, Thrugh R 3, H 5.
800. preseruyiig] perseuer>'ng B. 801. expert] expertis R.
802. Take P. 803. as] of H — hih] om. H, R 3.
807, 9, 10. veyngloire, victoire, memoire B.
^ MS. J. leaf 41 recto.
222 A Chapter on good Government [j&k.. ii
Suddenly they Which wccne [to] stonde in ther estatis stable, 808
disappear, their \ ■> • i 11111 • •
^me clouded As thci the world hadde conquered be victorie —
shadow of ob- And sodenli be put out off memorie,
Ther fame cloudid, alias, and ther noblesse
With a dirk shadwe off foryetilnesse! 812
^ould'be the WherofF kom[e]th the famous cleer shynyng
glory of era- Off empcroures in ther consistories ? —
not for scholars Or whcrofF komth ther laude in reportyng,
histoHes?^ ^" SaufF that clerkis han wreten ther histories ? 816
Or where were now conquestis transitories,
Or ther tryumphes — wher sholde men hem fynde,
Ne had* writeris ther prowesse put in mynde?
of^'the^NiJe'"* Rekne up all, and first the worthy nyne, 820
Worthies rested In hih noblcsse which hadde neuer peeris:
on the labour r^^-t -i • i-i i 1*11 1
of the people, i her marcial actis, which cieerli dede shyne,
Ther fame vpborn aboue the* nyne speeris
With loude sownys ofF Famys clariouweris, 824
Ther glorious palmes, yifFthei be weel peised,*
Be low labour off comouws was first reised.
As a statue Mak a Hknesse off thes gret ymages [p. 99]
without feet CotiousH corue out be entaile, — 828
prince^may° Hed, atmys, bodi, and ther fressh visages,
ScTs""'^"* Withoute feet or leggis may nat vaile
To stonde vpriht; for needis thei mut faile.
And semblabli subiectis in comouwtees 832
Reise up the noblesse off pryncis in ther sees.
The head is set As hed and membres in ymages been o ston,
highest, as we ^~ , , , i i i
know, Uuther o stok, be cumpas ondeuyded.
And be proporciou^i ther feturis euerichon 836
Set in trewe ordre, as Nature hath prouided.
So that all errours thoruh crafft be circumcided:
The hed set hiest be custom, as men knowe,
The bodi amyd, the feet benethe lowe. 840
808. to] om. J, H 5, t)ei R 3 — ay in '^er statis R.
812. forgetfulnesse R.
819. Ne had] Nadde B.
823. the] all the B, J.
825. peised] preised B.
826. vpreisid H.
827. thes] the H. 830. avale R.
834. o]ofR,H.
835. o]ofR, H, R3,P.
838. thoruh] hi R, H, by R 3 — clrcumcided] circumcised R,
circuwiscisede R 3.
840. amyd] in myddis R.
BK.
n]
A Chapter on good Government
Mihti pryncis for ther hih renoun,
As most worthi shal ocupie the hed,
With wit, memorie* and eyen off resoun
To keepe ther membris fro myscheeflF & dreed,
Lik ther degrees take ofF hem good heed.
With cleer[e] forsiht off a prudent thouht
Ther feet preserue that thei erre nouht.
Ther mut been handis & armys off difFence,
Which shal this ymage manli keepe & guie
From alle assautis off foreyn violence,
Which shal be named noblesse off cheualrie —
Ther trewe office iustli to magnefie,
Sustene the chirch & make hemsiluen strong
To see that widwes nor maidnes ha[ue] no wrong.
Prudent iuges, as it is skele and riht,
To punshe wrong and surfetis to redresse,
In this ymage shal ocupie the siht:
For loue or hate, bi doom off rihtwisnesse,
For freend or fo his iugementis dresse.
So egali the lawes to susteene.
In ther werkis that noon errour be scene.
Mid this ymage there is a bodi set.
An agregat off peeplis and degrees.
Be parfit pes and vnyte I-knet
Bi thestatis that goueme comountees, —
As meires, prouostes & burgeis in citees,
Marchauntis also, which seeke sundri londis.
With othir crafftis which lyuen bi ther hondis.
And as a bodi which that stant in helthe
Feelith no greeff off no froward humours,
So eueri comoun contynueth in gret welthe.
Which is demened with prudent gouemours,
That can appese debatis and errours,
The peeple keepe from al contrauersie,
Causyng the[r] weelfare tencrece & multeplie.
223
and by its
foresight must
keep the other
members from
harm.
844
g .g There must also
be hands and
arms of defence.
8,2
prudent judges,
who are as
856 eyes.
860
864
a torso made
of officials,
burgesses and
merchants;
868
and as a body
in health
knows no dis-
comfort, to is a
country rich
p_ when governed
°72 by prudent
men who keep
the people in
peace.
842. hed] stede H.
843. memoire B. 844. ther] the R.
848. arrays & hondis R, H.
853. hemsiluen] hem ful R.
854. nor] & R. 862. In myddis R.
864. I-knet] knett R. *
866. Mayores P, mayr\'S H 5, Mairis H — prouestes R.
872. demened] demyd R. 874. to kepe R — countrouersye
R.
all men and
reprove vices;
224 A Chapter on good Government [bk. ii
Iisl'hTvl^ ™"stThis bodi must haue a soule off lifF 876
6oui of con- To quyke the membris with gostli mociouws,
' Which shal be maad off folk contemplatifF,
The cherche comwitted to ther pocessiouns,
Which bi ther hooli conuersaciouns 880
And good exau7nple[s] sholde as sterns shyne,
Be grace and vertu the peeple [tjenlumyne.
to whose care Vpon the Hht ofF thet condiciouns,
txlC CxlurCn IS
committed, and Off this bodi dependith the weelfare: 884
who should tell -r- • i i ^ ^• •
the truth to T or in thcr techyng and predicaciouws
Thei sholde trouthe to hih & low declare,
And in ther office for no dreed ne spare
Vices correcte, lich as thei ar holde, 888
Sithe thei been heerdis off Cristes folde.
and there must Folwyng vpon, off entent ful cleene,
be labourers to^,-''?'^, , ii-i
hold up and Laboreris, as ye han herd deuised,
sustain the r'l i i • i t i i
body as feet bhal this Dodi Dem up and susteene 89a
hSnesUabour As fcet and leggis, which may nat be despised;
ju^ifi°ed^ For trewe labour is iustli auctorised,
And ner the plouh vpholden be trauaile,
Off kynges, pryncis farweel al gouernaile. 896
Thus, if Thus first yiff pryncis gouerned been be riht,
prmces, knights, . , , i i i rr i i i r i
judges, bur- And knyhthod suttre the peeple to hatuej no wrong,
fnd^abourers And trouthe in iuges shewe out his cleer liht,
then ttm&y'' And feith in cites with loue be drawe a-long, 900
this"image^\ -^"^ hooH cherche in vertu be maad strong,
well wrought, ^nd in his labour the plouh ne feyne nouht, —
Thanwe be proporciouw this ymage is weel wrouht.
With King This mateer hool for texemplefie, 904
an example, Kyug Roboam fot fals* oppressioun
princes must Air i* 'irir i*
remember that And lor his wiitui troward tirannye
peotielor^the Loste a gtet patti off his regeoun;
ruiers?nlt °lht Wherfore, let pryncis considren off resoun, 908
oppressed. QqJ sette the peeple for lordis auauwtage,
And nat to been oppressid with seruage.
877. quykene R.
879. commyttith H.
881. sholde] holde R. 888. ar] er H.
889. owne folde R.
896. princis kyngis R, R 3 — al] the H.
898. to] om. R.
905. fals] a fals B, H, J, R 3, H 5, P — oppressioun] pr^-
sumpciown H.
BK. IlJ
The Story of Mucins Sccevola
225
Vpon sumwe pryncis Bochas doth compleyne, [p. lOo] Bocha$ aisap-
--, I I I proves oi
Duch as haue a custum and maneer
Ageyn ther subiectis ongoodli to disdeyne,
And off pride to shewe hem froward cheer;
Counseileth hem to remembre & ler,
As this chapitle doth fynali deuise,
First out off labour al lordshepe dede arise.
proves
912 princes who are
disdainful to
their subjects,
and counsels
them to remem-
ber that all
lordship first
arose out of
labour.
916
[How Mucyus Sceuola slouh an Innocent in stede of
Kyng Porcenna that leide siege to Rome.] ^
WHAN kyng Porcenna with his cheualrie
Ageyn Romeyns a werre first began,
The toun besegyng vpon ech partie
With gret puissaunce brouht out off Tuskan,
In the cite ther was a knyhtli man,
Mucius Sceuola, which caste in ther distresse
To breke the siege thoruh his hih prowesse. 924
Leet arme hymsilfF[e] cleene in plate & maile,
For comoun profit, tauauncen his corage
Kyng Porcenna proudli to assaile;
A tyme prouyded to his auauntage, 928
Thoruh the siege to maken his passage,
And fynali at his in-comyng
luparte his persone for to sle the kyng.
But Ilk as tellith Titus Lyuyus,
Wher Porcenna sat in his roial see,
This senatour, this manli Mucius,
Sauh a prynce off gret auctorite.
The kyng rasemblyng, clad [both] in o lyuere, 936
Atween discernyng no maner variaunce;
Slouh that prynce off veray ignoraunce.
But whan he knew[e] that he dede faile
To slen Porcenna, enmy to the toun.
And sauh he hadde lost al his trauaile,
He made a pitous lamentacioun.
Because he dede execucioun
Off ignoraunce, ageyn his owne entent, 944
To spare a tirant and slen an innocent.
916. As] And H, R.
920. toun] ton H. 931. luparte] lupardie R.
933. his]om. R. 935. Sauh] Sith R. 941. sauh]sithR.
^ MS. J. leaf 41 verso.
When the
Etruscans once
besieged Rome,
Mucius Scae-
920 vola determined
to pass through
the hostile
lines and slay
King Porsenna.
Q'12 Unfortunately
he mistook
another prince
for the king,
and killed him.
But when he
saw his blunder,
940 he cried out in
grief at having
slain an inno-
cent man
226 Mucins Scavola, Lucrece [^bk. ii
and soing^up For which hc was with hymsilfF ful wroth,
held his 'hand That hc was fouwdc SO necligcnt in deede,
in the flames ai'ii'i i r*i i
until it was And With his hand onto a hr he goth, 948
consume . Made it btenne briht as any gleede,
Bothe nerfF & bon and his flessh to sheede,
His hand consumyng on pecis heer & yonder,
And from his arm made it parte assonder. 952
For this deed And as the story declareth onto vs.
the Romans _., . , ■' , ,
ever afterward 1 his manli man, this noDle senatour,
Scxvoia. Afor tyme was calUd Mucius,
Which for the comoun dede many gret labour; 956
And for the vnkouth hasti fell rigour
Doon [vn]to hymsilfF, the Romeyns all,
Sceuola thei dede hym afFtir call.
which is to As moche to seyne be language off that lond — 960
without a hand.Who take atiht the exposicioun —
As a man which is withoute an bond.
And afftir hym bi successioun
Al his offspryng, that wer bor in the touw, 964
In remembraunce for tencrece his fame.
Off Sceuola bar afftir hym the name.
Such examples Bc this exauwplc and many a-nother mo,
shew what x/tt' i- i i
perils and suf- YiiT men list her corages to awake, 968
haTe^end^ured Thei sholde Seen what pereil & what wo
t°a"nta°gTaT "^' For comouw profit men haue* vndirtake,
BrntuT^'chased ^^ whilom Btutus fot Lucrecis sake
Tarquin^and all Chaced Tarquyn for his transgressioun 972
Rome. And kynges alle out off Rome toun.
Lucrece's story Touchyng Lucrece, exauwple off wifli trouthe,
is related by-jy ry-. i-rii'jj
Chaucer, who How yonge 1 atquyn hir taisii dede oppresse,
And afftir that, which was to gret a routhe, 976
How she hirsilff[e] slouh for heuynesse.
It nedith nat rehersyn the processe,
Sithe that Chaucer, cheeff poete off Bretayne,
Wrot off hir liff a legende souerayne. 980
told why the Rehersyng ther amongfesl other thynges
Romans exiled ^ , , -^ » 11 . "^ *=
their kings and Lch circumstauwcc and ech occasiouw:
se'rted Dtdo, '" Whi Romeyns exilid first ther kynges,
948. And] An R. 950. and] om. R. 957. hasti] om. R.
958. vnto]toH, J, R 3,H 5, P. 959. aftirdid hym R.
960. As meche to seye R. 968. Corag<r H.
970. haue] han B. 979. Sithe] Which R.
BK. Il]
The Story of Lucrece
211
Neuer to regnen afftir in ther toun, 984
As olde cronycles make mencioun,
Remembryng also thunkyndli gret outrage
Bi Eneas* doon to Dido off Cartage.
Eek othir stories which he wrot his lyue
Ful notabli with eueri circumstaunce,
And ther fatis dede pitousli descryue,
Lik as thei fill put hem in remembraunce,
Wherfore yifF I sholde my penne auaunce, 992
Afftir his makyng to putte hem in memorie,*
Men wolde deeme it presumpciouw & veynglorie.
as well as other
tales, notably
written. It
were presump-
tion for me to
tell them again,
For as a sterre in presence off the sunne
Lesith his fresshnesse and his cleer[e] liht,
So my reudnesse vnder skies dunne
Dareth ful lowe and hath lost his siht,
To be compared ageyn the bemys briht
Off this poete; wherfore it were but veyn
Thyng seid be hym to write it newe ageyn.
[p-
lOl] f°'' ^' ^ ^'*''
pales before
996 the sun, so
my unpolished
language can
stand no com-
parison to the
bright beams of
this poet.
[How Lucrece/ oppressid bi Tarquin slouh hirsilf.] ^
BUT at Lucrece stynte I will a while,
It were pite hir story for to hide,
Or slouthe the penne of my reud[e] stile,
But for hir sake alle materis set a-side.
Also my lord bad I sholde abide,
By good auys at leiser to translate
The doolful processe off hir pitous fate.
Folwyng the tracis off CoUucyus,
Which wrot off hir a declamaciouw
Most lamentable, most doolful, most pitous,
Wher he descryueth the dolerous tresoun
Off hir constreyned fals oppressioun,
Wrouht & compassid bi vnwar violence,
The liht ontroublid off hir cleer conscience.
Yet, after all, I
will pause at
Lucrece. It
would be a
1004 pity not to tell
her story, and,
besides, my
lord bade me
do it.
1008
So, following
CoUucius, I'll
describe how
she was taken
unawares and
outraged.
986. Remembre R. 987. Eneas] encres B, encrece J,
Encrece H, Encres H 5, encros R 3, Eneas R, Aenee P.
988. his] in his H. 991. fill] ful R. 992. Wheroff R.
993, 94. memoire, veyngloire B.
999. compared] compacid R. looi. be hym] beforn R.
1003. for] om. H.
1007. at] bi H. 1008. hir] his R.
1 MS. J. leaf 42 recto.
228 The Story of Lucrece [bk. ii
Her father was Hir fadcF whilom calHd Spurius, 1016
husband CoUa- Hit worthi husbondc named Collatyn,
Tarqub was WHIch bi thc luxuFC & trcsoun odious
deat""'* °^ ^^' And vicious outrage of Sextus, proud Tarqwin,
Oppressid was & brouht onto hir fyn. 1020
Whos dedii sorwe in Inglissh for to make.
Off pitous routhe my penne I feele quake.
Tarquin came This Said Tatquyn, this euel auised knyht,
thief in the This sclauwdrid man, most hatful for his deede, 1024
naied'lword in Cam Hch a thccfF, alas, vpon a nyht
his hand, With naked suerd, whan no man took non heede,
Vpon Lucrece, she quakyng in hir dreede,
Liggyng abedde ferr from hir folkes all, 1028
And knew no refuge for helpe for to call.
and said that He manacyng in his froward entent,
not yield to Ou hit beholdyug with a furious cheer,
fin'd'means°'to That with his suerd[e], but she wolde assent, 1033
S°namYfor- Hire and a boy he wolde prente ifeer,
*^'«'^- Such on as was most ougli off maner.
Most onlikli off persone and off fame:
Thus he hir thratte for to sclauwdre hir name. 1036
So there was But his entent[e] whan she dede feele,
N°xt^morainV And sauh no mene ageyn hir woful chauwce,
hu!ba°nd S The morwen afftir she list nothyng concele,
h?m' to^'d ""°* Tolde hir husbonde hooli the gouernauwce, 1040
vengeance, said Hym requeryng for to do vengaunce
Vpon this crym, saide lik a trewe wiff.
She wolde hir herte percen with a knyff.
In this mater this was hir fantasie: 1044
that she would Bet was to deie than to lyue in shame,
Hfe? il^hT^" And lasse wikke, to putte in iupartie
lesser evil. j^j^. mottal bodi than hir good[e] fame.
Whan honour deieth, farweel a manys name! 1048
Bet it were out off this liff disseuere.
Than sclaundrous fame to slen a man for euere.
1017. Cellatyne R.
1018. luxurie R, P, luxury H, R 3.
1033. prente] present R, R 3.
1039. morwenj morowe R, morow R 3, P, morn H, J, morwyn
1042. this] his H.
1045. Bettir R. 1046. wikke] wikkid was R.
1049. Bettir R.
BK. Il]
Tbf Story of Lucrece
229
But to that purpos hir husbonde seide nay,
Hir fader also was therto contrarie,*
Makyng a promys, withoute mor delay,
To do vengauwce how thei wil nat tarie.
To hir declaryng with resouns debonarie,
Vnder these woordis trouthe & riht conserued.
To slen hirsilfF she hath nothyng disserued :
[]" My dere Lucrece, tempeste the nat at al,
We knowe thy menyng and thy clene entent,
Thy vertu prevyd in especial,
Which yevith to vs a ful pleyn argument,
Vn-to thavoutour thow gaff nevir* assent.
And for a more singuleer ev^^dence,
Cryest eu^rre to punysshe his greet offence.
Lyst nat cese, but eu^re theron abydest.
And al counfort doost fro thy-sylff refuse;
Thyng that was secre, in covert thow nat hydest
But rygerously thavoutour doost accuse,
Wheer expert vertu thy renoun doth* excuse.
Thy wyffly trouthe can hern also witnesse
By deer repoort to vs of thy clennesse.
For in the eyen of folkys ferre and neer.
The glorye and honour of wyffly chastite
Hath to this day with bryghte beemys cleer
In thy persone enlvmyned this cyte.
For bothe in opyn and also in secre
The fame hath flouryd of thy chaast[e] name,
Fre fro thatwytyng of ony spot of blame.
We can our-sylff recordyn and expresse.
How thy delyght and thyn hertly plesaunce
Was to worshepe wyffly sobimesse.
And to werreye al chaunge and varyaunce,
Lyk a lantifrne set vp of constauwce.
Or lyk a merour, in eu<fry mannys syght,
Off good exaumple to yive al othir lyght.
But CoUatine
and her father
._.. said no, prom-
'^ ising to do
vengeance at
once.
1056
"My dear
Lucrece, do not
be troubled, we
know your
1060 virtue.
1064
"You cry out
on this offence
without com-
fort, you conceal
nothing from
us, you have
1068 always been a
model of wifely
propriety, we
^^72 know ourselves
that you are a
1076
lantern, a
mirror of con-
1080 "*°'=>-
1084
1052,54, 55. contraire, taire, debonaire B.
1055. resoun H. 1056. these] ther H.
1058. The following six stanzas are omitted in B, H, J, H 5, P.
The text is supplied from Harley ij66,fol. 102 recto.
1058. the] om. R.
1062. nevir] nevir thyn Harley 1766.
1069. doth] doost Harley 1766.
1077. hath] om. R.
1078. thatwytyng] the awaytyng R.
230
"Don't you
remember how
Tarquin and I
found you not
long ago vir-_
tuously occupied
amidst your
maidens,
making them
embroider in
soft wools,
without thought
of evil?
The Story of Lucrece
[bk. II
"You were
trapped like a
fowl in a snare,
and you think
your good name
is lost.
"But this is
impossible.
"We will be
avenged on
your wrong.
My trewe Lucrece, hastow nat in mynde,
Nat yoore agoon, in verray sekirnesse,
How thavoutour and I the did[e] fynde
Amyd thy women in vertuous besynesse
Occupyed, — a tokne of stedfastnesse,
Therby concludyng of trouthe and of resouw,
Modir of vertu is occupacyouw.
I fond the thanne, as I haue do ful ofFte,
Among thy maydenys besily sittyng,
To make hem werke vpon wollys sofFte,
In ther werkyng hem womanly cherysshyng.
On vicious lust ful smal was thy thynkyng;
Wherfore, thow shuldyst of resoun advertyse,
Tatempre thy dool in more tendir wyse:]
For sodenli and also onauised,
As a foul is trappid in a snare,
Be onwar fraude vpon the practised.
Thou were deceyued, pleynli to declare,
Hauyng this conceit, hard is to repare
The name off hem which falsli be difFamed,
Whan wrong report the[r] hih renoun hath shamed
Touchyng thi persone, I dar afFerme & seyn,
That it were a maner inpossible.
And lik a thyng which neuer yit was seyn,
That thi worshepe was fouwde coruptible,
But stedfast ay and indyuysible,
Ondepartid in vertu and maad strong.
And now desirous tauenge thi pitous wrong.
On thyn iniurie we shal auengid be,
Considred first the dedli heuynesse
Which thou suffredist bi gret aduersite.
Whan thauoutour thi* beute dede oppresse,
And reioishyng bi a fals gladnesse,
Maugre thi will[e], as a theefF be nyht
The encouwbred off veray force & myht.
1088
1092
1096
1 104
1 108
1116
1091. 2nd of3 om. R.
1092. of] and Harley 1766.
1096. hem womanly] womanly hem R.
1 100. also] al H. 1104. is] it is R.
1 106. ther] the J, H, R 3, H S, P.
1 1 13. now] not H.
1 1 14. shal] shullen R.
1 1 17. thi] thei B.
BK. Il]
The Story of Lucrece
231
But yifF thou woldist leue al thi moomyng [p.
And restreyne thyn Inportable wo,
Thou sholdist seen so egal a punshyng
Vpon thi moste froward mortal fo,
To wame alle othre, thei shal no mor do so,
In chastisyng ofF fals auoutrie,
The and thi renoun off riht to magnefie.
What was difFacyng to thi trewe entent,
Thouh his youthe onbridled wente at large,
So for tafForce a celi innocent ?
Whos wikkednesse ouhte to here the charge,
And we off riht thi conscience discharge.
The ioie onleefFul off his fals plesaunce,
With double palme thyn honour doth auauwce.
Conceyue and see, o thou my Lucrece,
How that resoun and good discrecioun
Sholde thi trouble & thi moumyng cese.
Off riht restreyne thyn opynyoun.
So reklesli to do punycioun.
With knyf on honde to slen thisilff, alas!
For othres gilt, and dedist no trespas.
Lat be, Lucrece, lat been al thi dool,
Cese thi compleynt & thi wo restreyne.
Sholde I fro the lyue alone al sool,
And thi deth perpetueli compleyne t
To putte thi fader in inportable peyne, —
Off our weelfare be nat so rek[e]les.
To deie and leue our childre moodirles.
Off prudence eek thou ouhtest for to see
And aduertise onli off resoun,
Thouh off force thi bodi corupt be,
Thi soule inward and thyn entencioun
Fraunchised been from al corupcioun.
Offens is noon, considre in thyn entent,
But will and herte yiue therto ful consent.
Thou were nakid in thi bed liggyng,
Alone, onwar, slepyng and void off myht,
Suspeciounles al off his comyng.
J 02] "Only restrain
" your sorrow
and you will
sec exemplary
punishment
dealt to your
^1-4 enemy, as a
warning to all
other*.
1 1 28 "His unbridled
youth did not
prejudice your
honesty;
I132
reason and dis-
cretion both
1 136 demand that
you should not
sacrifice year
life for an-
other's gilt.
1 140
"Lay aside
your sorrow,
Lucrece, and do
not be so reck-
II44 !ess of our
welfare!
1 148
"Your soul is
free from all
corruption;
1 1 56
It IS not sur-
prising that a
weak woman
should be over-
come by a
strong man.
1 122. Importable H.
1131, ouhte to] of riht ouht R. 1132. off riht] also R.
1 133. fals] hertly R. 1140. on] in R.
1 142. thi] this R. 1 144. al] and R. 1146. importable H.
1151. corruptidH. 1158. al]as H, H5, R 3— Suspiciousles P.
232
The Story of Lucrece
[bk. II
" Yet I know
that for all his
strength he
never could
compel your
heart to yield.
"What is more
praiseworthy
than the con-
trast between
his fraud and
your constancy?
" We know well
that the tyrant
found you more
like an image
of stone than a
being of flesh
and blood.
"Your father
and I have
both excused
you, so do not
think of killing
yourself.
"If you do, it
will seem to
some that you
were guilty;
I160
I164
That tyme namli, because that it was nyht.
A feerful woman, and he an hardi knyht,
Al-be-it so onknyhtli was his deede,
With nakid suerd tassaile thi womanheede. .
He myhte thi bodi be force weel oppresse
Be sleihti weies that he hadde souht;
But weel wot I, for al his sturdynesse,
He myhte neuer ha[ue] maistri off thi thouht.
The bodi yolde, the herte yald hym nouht.
Ye wer[en] tweyne, thou feeble & he riht strong, 1168
Thi trouthe afForced, he werkere off the wrong.
Where myhtistou ha[ue] grettere price or laude,
Al riht considred, trouthe and equite:
First couMtirpeised his force & sleihti fraude,
Thanne to perseuere in femynyte
With thouht onchauwgid, & in fragilite
Off womanheed to haue an herte stable, — •
What thyng in the myht be mor comendable ?
It is weel knowe thou were off herte ay oon.
To all fals lustis contraire in gouernaunce,
Mor lik an ymage korue out off a ston.
Than lik a woman flesshli off plesaunce
The tirant fond the in cheer & contenaunce.
Which euer afftir be womanli victorie*
Shal be ascryued to thyn encres off glorie.
Thi fadir Brutus hath the weel excusid,
Misilff also, thi blood & thi kynreede, —
On this mater lat no mor be musid.
To sle thisilff or do thi sidis bleede,
Certis, Lucrece, thou hast ful litil neede;
It were gret wrong be al our iugement
To spare a tirant and slen an innocent.
Thi-silff to moordre, to sumwe it wolde seeme
Thou were gilti, wher-as thou art cleene.
Dyuers wittis dyuersli wolde* deeme,
Reporte thyng thou neuer* dedist meene.
For which thou shalt pacientli susteene,
1 160. feerdful R. 1164. out souht R.
1 165. sturdynesse] worthynesse H.
1 169. Thi]TheR — he]ofR.
1174. &] om. R — fragilige R. 1182,83. victoire, gloire B.
1 186. this] thi H — mor] man H.
1 193. wolde] will B, R 3, wil J, P, wyl H 5.
1 194. And reporte R — thou neuer] that thou neu^r R —
neuer] non B, J, none P (which thou noon did meen R 3).
1172
1176
1 180
1 184
1192
BK. Il]
Lucrece's Answer to her Husband
233
Till thi chast[e] wiffli innocence 1196
May seen hym punshed for his violence.
Folk wil nat deeme a persone innocent,
Which wilfulli, whan he is nat coupable,
Yildith hymselfF to deth be iugement,
And neuer afFom was off no gilt partable.
His owne doom, vpon hymsilfF vengable,
Causeth the peeple, thouh ther report be nouht.
To deeme a thyng that neuer was doon nor thouht. 1204
for folk will not
hold a person
innocent who
wilfully yields
1200 himself to
death;
To been auengid vpon thyn owne lifF,
In excusyng off thi dedli diffame,
To shewe thou art a trewe parfit wifF,
Wenyng be deth to gete the a name, — 1208
In this deuys thou art gretli to blame,
Wher thou yit knowest thyn honour cleerli shyne,
To yiue the peeple mater to deuyne."
^ And with that woord Lucrece dede abraide,
Ful dedli pale bothe ofF look and cheer.
To them ageyn, euene thus she saide:
" Lat be, husbonde, lat be, my fader deer,
Spekith no mor to me off this mateer.
List men dempte, in hyndryng off my name,
I dradde deth mor than fals difFame.
[p. 10"^] ^'^^ '' y°" '^''^
'•'^* ^ this you w
you would
be greatly to
blame."
12 12 ^'th that word
Lucrece an-
swered," Let be,
my husband
and my father.
1216
Your counsail is, I shal my lifF conserue
To sorwe and sclaundre, but to no gladnesse;
But lasse wikke is at an hour to sterue
Than euer langwisshe in sorwe & heuynesse.
Deth maketh an eende off al worldli distresse;
And it was said sithe[n] ful yore ago.
Bet is to deie than euer to lyue in wo.
Whan that worshepe in any creature
Is slayn and ded be sclaund[e]rous report.
Bet is off deth the dreedful peyne endure.
Than be fals noise ay luye in disconfort,
Wher newe & newe difFame hath his resort.
"Your counsel
is that I shall
1220 li^"e in sorrow;
but it is less
wrong to die
than ever to
languish in woe.
1224
1228
"When honour
is (Iain, it is
better to endure
death.
1204. nor] no R.
1218. deth mor3 more deth R. 1219. my lifi" I shal H.
1221. wikkyd R.
1224. said] ow. R — sithen] sithe J, P, sythen H 5 — yore]
longe R 3, yeere H 5.
1225, 28. Bettir R. 1229. discomfort H.
1230. difFame] fame R, H.
234 Lucrece's Answer to her Husband [|bk. il
Neuer deieth, but queklth be thoutrage
Off hatful tuwges & venymous language. 1232
"Do your best Doth youf dcucF to halwc & make stable
wifely chastity The chast[e] chauwbres off wifli gouernaunce;
geance on the FoF in this cas yiff yc be variable
adulterer. q^ £^|g auouto foF to do vcngauwce, 1236
Ther shal folwe euerlastyng remembrauwce,
How trewe spousaile, as ye han herd deuysed,
In your cite was broke and nat chastised.
"If you are Yiff ye be founde in such cas necligent 1240
found neghgent, t-. i m 't • i
licentiousness io punysshe auoutouts, Oil Tiht as is your charge,
bridied"at"iarge- Thotuh your slouthe, as ye were off assent,
Luxure onbridled shal renne abrod at large.
Who shal thanne your conscience discharge, 1244
Or what woman stonde in sekirnesse,
Off Lucrece afforced the clennesse ?
"What joy O deere husbonde, what ioie sholde it be
would you _, , . '
have, dear hus- lo thyn cstat, m ony maner place, 1248
me after Tar- Lich as thi wiff [fot] to chcrisshc me,
wime'f °'^" Or in thyn armys me goodli to enbrace,
The gilt horrible considred and trespace
Be Tarquyn doon — alas and welaway! — 1252
Which in my persone may neuer be wasshe away?
"And, my And fader myn, how sholdestou me calle,
father, how can «rr'i-ii ii i
you call me Aittir this day, thyn owne douhter deere,
this day?* " Which am, alas, refus off women alle, 1256
That to thi plesaunce was whilom most enteere,
Withynne thi hous whan I dede lere,
Bi cleer exauwple off manyfold doctryne,
Al that partened to vertuous disciplyne? 1260
"Having lost Which I haue lost now in my daies olde,
my virtue, I _^. . , . -^
dare not even Discspeircd it to tccurc ageyn.
chiidrenf'^ °^° Myn owne childre, I dar hem nat beholde,
Because the wombe in which that thei ha[ue] leyn 1264
Diffouled is and poUut in certeyn.
Which was toforn in chastite conserued.
Chastisith thauoutour, as he hath disserued!
1 241. avoutrers R.
1243. Luxury H, R 3, Luxurie P — renne abrod] goone aboute
R, ryn about R 3.
1245. schall stonde R. 1249. for] om. J.
1258. thi] thyne R, thyn H, R 3, H 5. 1262. Dlspeired R.
1264. the] that the R — haue] om. R. 1265. pollutid H.
BK.
n]
Lucrece^s Answer to her Father
And for my part to speke in woordes fewe,
Lenger to lyue I ha[ue] no fantasie;
For wher sholde I out my face shewe,
Or dore appeere in any cumpanye,
Sithe a dirk spotte off fals auoutrie
Shal euer encrece*, wher it be fals or trewe,
Into myn hyndryng the sclaundre to renewe ?
Lust afforcid hath a fals appetit,
Of freelte includid* in Nature;
Maugre the will, ther folweth a delit,
As summe folk seyn, in eueri creature.
Good fame lost, ful hard is to recure;
And sithe I may myn harmys nat redresse,
To you in open my gilt I will confesse.
Al-be I was ageyn my will oppressid,
Ther was a maner constreyned lust in deede,
Which for noun power myht nat be redressid,
For febilnesse I stood in so gret dreede.
For which offence deth shal be my meede,
Sith leuer I haue with sum egge tool
To sle mysilff, than lyue in sclaundre & dool.
O fader myn, spare and ha[ue] pite!
And deere husbonde, rewe on myn offence!
Goddis & goddessis callid off chastite,
To my trespace graunteth an indulgence;
For off my gilt to make a recompence,
Wher that Venus gat in me auauntage,
Deth shal redresse & chastise myn outrage.
For yiff I sholde make a delay
To perce my brest bi sharpnesse off a knyff.
Men wolde deeme and sey fro day to day,
To make my sclaundre mor open & mor ryff.
How that I was mor tendir off my lyff 1300
Than off my worshep, which wer to gret a shame, —
To loue my liff mor than my good[e] name!
1270. out my face3 my face out R.
1273. euer encrece] euermore B, eu^rmore J — wher] whedir H.
1274. renewe] remewe H.
1276. includid] indudyng R, concludid hoolly H, encludid
hooly R 3, the word includid is repeaUd in B, J, H 5.
1281. my gilt in open R. 1282. Al-be] Also R.
1283. Ther] the H. 1284. noun] no R.
1287. Sith] And R. 1290. deere] trew H,
1291. callid] om. R. 1297. a] om. H.
235
1268 "^'°r have I
the desire to
live longer:
defouled, I dare
not appear in
any company.
1272
"Lust afforced
has a false ap-
1276 petite, delight
follows, even
though it be
against the
wiU;
1280
and as such
was my experi-
ence, I would
rather kill my-
1284 sdf with some
edged weapon
than live in
disgrace.
1288
[p. 104] "T>« S°<Js and
' ' goddesses of
chastity grant
this indulgence,
that death may
redress my
1292 wrong-doing.
1296 "I^ I 4f'*>'/. ,
men will thmlc
that I loved
life more than
my good name.
236 The Death of Lucrece {j&k. ii
"No witness is In this matecr no witnesse is so good,
so good as rri 1 r 1
blood shed with lo puttc a-way ai rals suspeciouw, 1304
a knife. ^^ W\t\\ a knyfF to sheede myn herte blood :
I myht nat make a bet purgacioun
To alle folk that ha[ue] discrecioun,
Than fynali be my deth texcuse 1308
The gilt horible, off which men me accuse.
"Go forth, my Go fooFth my soule, peur & inmortal,
soul, before the _,, „r i • rr
judges infernal, Cheerr[e] witnessc ott myn mnocence,
who will decide »-r. r i • i • i i • r l
that my con- 1 otor tho mgcs which be mternal: 1312
science was ^'ust Mynos, kyng, to deeme my conscience,
With Radamanthus to yeuen a sentence
Lik my desert, that it may be seene,
In wifli trouthe how that I was cleene. 1316
and let my Thou cttheli body, which thoruh thi fairnesse
blood stir and __, • r ^
excite the Were to auoutri lul gret occasiouw,
aiTking^for' ^ Off thi blood sheede out the red[e]nesse,
Tarquin's sake. ^^^ ^^ ^j^j ^jj^^ j^^^ J^ ^.^Jj^ ^J^^^. ^^^^
Stere and excite the peeple off this toun
To doon ther deuer, withynwe a litil while,
For loue off Tarquyn, alle kynges to exile.
"Do not delay And fitst I ptaic, myn husbonde most enteer^, 1324
geance." Off this vengauwcc to make no delay;
With helpe & socour off my fader deer^
To punysshe thauoutour, in al the haste ye may;
Let hym take his wages and his pay, 1328
Lik as ye seen, and pleynli now conceyue.
For his offence the deth I do receyue."
And suddenly. And sodcnli, or thei myhte aduerte,
kneT what she She took 2L knyff, and with gret violence, 1332
r"k aTnife'and Thotuh the btest, cucne onto the herte
Ei"rf ind" She made it glide, — ther was no resistence.
if thei^"feft"'^ Ful pale and ded fill doun in ther presence.
And bi occasiouw* off this pitous deede, 1336
Tarquyn exilid, and hooli his kenreede.
1306. myht] may R — bet] bettir R.
1308. Than] & H — texcuse] excuse R.
1309. accuse] excuse R.
13 10. peur] pore R — &] & and R — Immortall H.
1312. tho] the R, H, R 3. 1319. thi] the H.
1326. &] om. R.
1328. pay] play R, pray H.
J330. do] now R.
1336. bi occasioun] boccasioun B, bi the occasion R.
BK. ii] The Story of Appius and Virginia 237
For which[e] cause, be record off writyng, S'Jre wL"^^^
Was ther neuer in Rome the cite, ^^" * ■''^s "»
, ' Rome.
AiFtir that day no man crownyd kyng, 1340
As in cronycles ye may beholde and see.
Thus for luxur[y]e and ther cruelte,
Ther tirannye and fals extorsioun,
Thei wer exilid out off Rome toun. 1344
[How Rome aftir was gouemed and virginea bi hir
fadir slaynj ^
GOUERNED afFtir bi other officeres, ^me '^a*
As is remembred in Titus Lyuyus, goranta by
Callid decemvir of dyuers cronycleres; a^^^'"hom
Among[es] which ther was on Appius, 1348 r«e/for"hii
A iuge ontrewe, proud and luxurious, dishonesty.
Which thoruh the cite, the story berth witnesse,
Behatid was for his gret falsnesse.
And onys it fill, as he caste his look 1352 He once saw a
Vpon a maide most inli fair off siht, daughter of
A fals desir withynne his herte he took wh^'he °
Hir to disuse, ageyn al skele and riht. SSbn. ^*' '
And she was doubter to a worthi knyht, 1356
Ful manli founde in his deedis all,
And Virginius the Romeyns dede hym call.
Whos goodli doubter, the story doth us lere, Her name was
Was afftir hym for his noble fame 1360 ^'^^'
Virginia callid, most goodli & enteere;
And for this cause she bar the same name.
But Appius ful gretli was to blame.
Which hath conspired thoruh his gret falsnesse, 1364
YifF that he myhte hir beute to oppresse.
This iuge ontrewe bothe in thouht and deede, tt^'s dishonest
Off lawe onrihtful souhte out occasioun; ier^""at-!aw
Made a sergeant off his to proceede, 1368 IgaL'^^r on a
Ageyn this maide to take an accioun, ^^"^ '^*'^'
Qeymed hir his seruant bi fals collusioun.
And this was doon be Appius off entent
That he on hir myht yiue a iugement. 1372
1346. in] bi H, by R 3.
1366. and] in R. 1368. to] go R.
1369. maide] raateer R. 1370. Cleymed] Clevm H.
1372. on]ofH.
^ MS. J. leaf 43 verso.
238 Jppius* Disgrace and Death [bk. il
mighffind op- And be this mene, in his fals delit, [p. 105]
portunky to Thouhtc hc mvhte hir beute best disuse,
accomplish bis i- i i • n i i- •
desire. So fof taccomphsshe his flesshh appetit,
She beyng feeble thaccioun to refuse. 1376
Wherupon hir fader gan to muse,
Fulli conceyued off Appius the maner,
In hir difFence wrouhte as ye shal heer.
hi"d^fd'eT Whan Appius hadde youe his iugement 1380
her'fathertook ^geyn this maide, which aforn hym stood,
her to one side Hir manli fadir, most knyhtU off entent,
and stabbed ill- j
her to the 1 ooK hir appatt, as he thouhte it good,
And with a knyfF shadde hir herte blood: 1384
Dempte it bettre to slen hir in clennesse,
Than the tirant hir beute sholde oppresse.
wfs pre\Mved. Thus hool conserued was hir chastite*
And ondefoulid was hir maydenheede; 1388
For Virginius to keepe hir honeste
Spared no thyng to make hir sides bleede.
But Appius for this horible deede,
And decemvir, thoruh this onhappi chau«ce, 1392
Hadde in that cite neuer afftir gouernaunce.
pr^finMr '° ^ As the story maketh also mencioun,
there slew him- Appius, ashamcd off this deede,
Slouh hymsilfF[e] fetrid in prisouw: 1396
Off a fals iuge, loo heer the fynal meede!
And tho tribuni in Rome gan succeede,
Twen riht & wrong treuli to discerne,
And Romayn lawes iustli to gouerne. 1400
lay'b^e'over- Men may heer seen as in a merour cleer,
menrwh'o^a^r' Estatis chauwgid for ther gret offencis;
sometimes or- And bc sum poote pcrsouc synguleer
darned by God _^ . \ ^^ ^ r
to chastise the Fryucis put doun ttom ther magnyhcencis, 1404
Which nat considre in ther gret excellencis,
How God ordeyneth his yerde [in] sundri wise.
The poore sumwhile the pompous to chastise.
1379. hir]] his H.
1383. it] it was R. 1384. shadde] he shad H.
1387. chastite] virgynyte B, J, R.
1389. honeste] virgynyte H. 1391. this] his R, thi H.
1392. thoruh this] for his H. 1395- this] his R.
1398. Tribunes H — began to R. 1399. Betwene R.
1402. offence R. 1404. magnyficence R.
1405. excellence R.
1406. ordeynyd H, ordeyned R 3 — in]om. H, H 5.
1407. sumwhile] sumtyme R
BK. Il]
Princes f do no Wrong to the Poor.
239
^ Heeron to shewe exaumple anon riht,
Markid in story for a notable thyng,
Pausanias, off Grece a manli knyht,
Off Macedonye slouh Phelipp the kyng
At a table where he was sittyng
Tween Alisandre and Olimpiades,
His wrong tauengen, amyddis al the pres.
9 Eek Salmator, a knyht off low degre,
For wronges doon in especiall,
Off manli force groundid on equite
Slouh off Cartage the prynce Hastruball,
Which brother was onto Due Hanyball,
Beside a ryuer, as thei mette in bataile,
Callid Metaure, which renneth in Ytaile.
Wherfore, ye Pryncis, yiff ye list longe endure,
Beth riht weel war, be ye neuer so strong,
In your lordshepis nat to moche assure
Off surquedie the poraile to do wrong.
In your discrecioun conceyuyng euer a-mong,
Grettest dreed is, that may your staat assaile.
Whan subieccioun doth in the peeple faile.
I40S *? ^''s Pausa-
nias, who slew
Philip of Mace-
doD,
I412
and Salmator,
who killed
14 16 Hasdrubal of
Carthage at the
River
Metaurus.
1420
Wherefore,
Princes, if you
would live long,
do no wrong
1424 to the poor.
1438
^ Lenvoy.
THIS tragedie declareth in partie.
What myscheef folweth of extorsioun,
Eek off spousbrech and of auoutrie
Be Tarquyn doon thoruh fals oppressioun
Onto Lucrece withynne Rome tou?: ;
Kynges exiled for such mysgouemaile
And fals outrages doon to the poraile.
Eek Appius, off wilful tirannye,
Ageyn Virginia took an accioun,
Thoruh a fals lust off froward lecherie,
Blent and fordirked his memorie* & resoun.
Which was cheeff cause and occasioun
Whi thestat off dishomme dede faile,
Thoruh fals outrages doon to the poraile.
This tragedy
shews the mis-
chief that fol-
lows extortion
and adultery.
1432
1AX6 tyranny and
^■^ false luit.
1440
I4IO.
1413-
1427.
1439-
1441.
Hi,
Pausamyas R — a] a ful R — manli] notable H.
Betwene R. 1414. in myddis R. 1422. ye] om. R.
statis R. 1428. doth] don H. 1432. thoruh] bi R.
memoire B.
dishomme] dishome R, H, thi Name (Na in later band)
decemvir R 3, Decemuir P.
240 Jeroboam, King of Israel [bk. ii
oum 'm done ^^^S PHclipp lostc sccptrc and regalie
to the poor. Off Maccdonye the famous regeoun, 1444
Onwarli slay[e]n, myd his cheualrie
Sittyng at mete withynwe his cheefF dongouw.
And grettest cause off his fallyng doun,
Was whan Fortune his pride dede assaile 1448
For fals outrages doon to the poraile.
Even Duke Duk Hasttubal, whom bokis magnefie
Hasdrubal, for _, r i • i -i
all his renown, Vp to the hcuenc lOt his hih renouw,
was slain by a xtti ■, , i i •
servant. Whos ttyuTTzphes tauht up to the skie, 1452
And hadde al Cartage in his subiecciouw, —
Yit was he slayn onwarH be tresouw,
Be a seruant; loo, what doth* disauaile
Treson purposid aforn in the poraile! 1456
Noble Princes, Noble Pryncis, your resoun doth applie, [p. 106]
people pru- Whiche ouet the peeple ha[ue] dominaciouw,
dently; for p i i- i i •
nothing can oo prudentH to goucme hem and guie,
thlt thtT^°^^ That loue and dreed be trewe affecciouw 1460
s^ct of the Preserue ther hertis from fals rebellioun,
poor.
Sithe to your hihnesse nothyng may mor preuaile
Than trewe subiecciouw expert in the poraile.
[How leroboam Kyng of Israel for Idolatrie and
disobedience cam to mischeues ende.] ^
Of six kings "VTEXT these stories, in Bochas as I fynde, 1464
who next ap- I ^1 ,-p,, , , , .
peared to JL ^ 1 her dede appeere onto his presence
bMm^pokeTrst, Kywges sexe, hym praieng to ha[ue] mynde
Vpon ther fall be onwar violence
From ther estatis off roial excellence. 1468
And toforn alle, I fynde, that ther cam
Off al Israel kyng leroboam.
declaring his Onto myn auctout he began* declare
fall with a pale tt- i ii- i • i ^ r
face. His dedli compleynt with a pale race, 1473
His gret myscheuys and his euel fare,
And how he fill doun from his kyngli place
Thoruh gret onhappis, which dede his h^frte enbrace,
1448. Was] om. R.
1449. outrage R. 1451,52. Vp to] vnto R.
1455. doth] it doth B, H, J, R 3, H 5, P — auaile P.
1461. ther] your R — fals] al R. 1462. nothyng may]
may no thyng R.
1471. began] began to B, H, J, R 3, H 5, P.
1472. fale] (u\ pale R. 1475. happis R.
1 MS. J. leaf 44 recto.
BK. Il]
Jerohoam and Jadan the Prophet
241
And, as this story pleynli hath deuysed.
For his offends how he was chastised.
An ydolatre* he was, as it is told,
Reised up auteres, off veray force & myht,
Set therupon too calueren of peur gold,
Dede hem worshepe, ageyn al skele & riht,
Gaff euel exaumple in the peeplis siht.
Whan he dede with fumys and encens
To fals ydoles ondeu reuerens.
Fro the temple he made the peeple gon,
Preestis ordeyned afftir his owne guise.
Forsook the tribe off Leuy and Aaron,
And vpon Bethel his offryng gan deuise.
And whil he dede onleefful sacrefise,
God, that weel knew off hym the fals entent,
Fro Jerusalem a prophete to hym sent.
Which hym rebuked off his mysgouemaunce.
And gan the pereiles to hym specefie;
Told hym afom[e], for to do vengaunce
Off Dauid[s] kyn ther sholde come on losie,
Which sholde his preestis, that falsli coude lie,
Manli destroie, and slen hem alle attonys
And into asshes brenne hem flessh and bonys.
And in tokne off ther destruccioun.
The prophete told among hem all.
How his auteris sholde bowe doun.
And his ydoles from ther stage fall.
Whom that foolis ther goddis falsli call.
Which ha[ue] no power to helpe in no manere.
For thei may nouther feele, see nor heere.
Afftir this prophete, ladan, hadde told
These said[e] signes pleynli to the kyng,
His auter fill on pecis manyfold,
1476
1480
1484
1488
He was an
idolater, who
set up two
golden calves,
and ordained
priests in his
own fashion.
1492
1496
God sent a
prophet,
Jadan, to re-
buke him, say-
ing that his
priests would
be destroyed by
Joshua,
and that hit
idols, called
1500 gods by fools,
would be over-
thrown.
1504
After Jadan
had finished
speaking, the
altar fdl to
pieces.
i=;o8
1476. this] his R. 1477, offence H. 1478. ydolastre B.
1479. auteres] Aucttxes H.
1480. Ther vpon sett R — too] om. H — caluys R, calves R 3,
calues P — peur] cleen H.
1483. he] that he H. 1489. whil] whan R.
1493. hi gan R. 1495. Dauyd H, R 3, H s.
1502. stages R.
1505. nouther feele see nor] neither se feele ne heer R — feele
see] see fele H, P, R 3 — nouther] not R 3.
1506. Afftir] Aftir l)at H. 1508. auteris fyUen R.
242 Jeroboam and Jadan |^bk. il
And ouerturned bakward his ofFryng;
For which the kyng, furiousli lokyng,
Put foorth his hand, the story maketh mynde,
Bad his men the prophete take and bynde. 1512
The king was And ES he his arm rauht out on lengthe,
furious, and, tt i i • • i i
stretching out Hadde no power it to withdrawe ageyn,
jldairto"^^ Wex onweeldi, contract and lost his strengthe.
bound*"But And whan the kyng hath these toknys seyn, 1516
Irm dmd^up, -^"d how the prophete spak no woord in veyn,
Gretli astonyd, koude sey no more,
But prai[e]de ladan his arm for to restore.
and only by And bc his praier and mediacioun, 1520
Jadan's prayer ^ ^p , . " rr^. ^,.
was it restored. Oft his arm, aittir this vengauwce,
Ther was anon maad restituciouw,
And off his peyne feelith alegauwce.
. For which the kyng, with ful gret instauwce, 1524
Requered hym to be so gracious,
That day tabide and dynen in his hous.
The king then But the ptophete wolde nat assente,
w^dine with Nouther with hym to ete nor to drynke; 1528
jLdan refused Took his asse, and foorth anon he wente,
and went away, q^ whose dcpattyng the kyng gan sore thynke.
And fantasies gan in his herte synke,
Speciali whan he taketh heede 1532
OfF all his toknys, how thei were trewe in deede.
God had com- God bad ladan in this gret emprise
neither to'^t To leroboam first whan he was sent,
tlTt'^clt'y. "" Ete nor drynke, in no maner wise, 1536
In that cite whil he was present;
But a-nother prophete off entent,
Ful old and slyh, on the tother side,
Compellid hath this ladan to abide. 1540
But one of Hym afForcyng be fals coUusiouw [p. 107]
Jeroboam's _,-' ^ * ...U V
false prophets To resorte ageyn to* the cite,
K^bfy^"" And to make no contradiccioun
Sndm'eX With hym to dyne off fraternyte, iS44
To hym afFermyng, it may non other be:
1519. for] om. R. 1524. ful] ow. H. 1525. Requeryng H.
1528. nor to drynke] nelthir drynke R.
1534. ladan] lason R. 1535. leroboam] Jerusalem R.
1536. nor] neithir R. 1537. while that R.
1538. But yit R. 1539. on the tother] vpon that oter R.
1542. to] onto B, J — the] that R.
BK. Il]
The Punishment of Jadan
For God sent hym as to his freend and brother,
Tabide with hym & pleynli with non other,
Off freendliheed and trewe alFeccioun
Withynne his hous to shewen his presence.
For a repast and a refeccioun:
This Godis will and fulli his sentence.
To whos woordis the prophete gafF credence.
And as thei sat at dyner bothe ifeere,
God onto ladan seide in this manere:
" For the brekyng off my comauwdement,
Thi grete offence and transgressioun, 1556
That thou hast been so wilful necligent,
Thou shalt endure this punycioun,
Been* al to-torn and rent off a leoun,
And in thi cuntre thou shalt nat recure, 1560
With prophetis to haue thi sepulture."
OfFwhich[e] tithyng, this ladan nothyng fayn,
Gan to departe with a ful heuy thouht:
Off a leoun myd off the weye slayn;
But his asse harmyd was riht nouht.
A ful gret merueile, yifF it be weel souht.
The leouw sittynge as in ther difFence,
And kept hem bothe from al violence. 1568
Alle these toknys myht[e] nat conuerte
leroboam from* his iniquite;
Godis warnyng hym list nat to aduerte.
Nor be his prophete correctid for to be. 1572
Wherfore, God wolde that he sholde see
Vengaunce folwe, as it fill in deede,
Bothe vpon hym and [on] his kynreede.
A sone he hadde, which fill in gret siknesse, 1576
Callid Abimen, the book doth specefie;
For which the kyng bad the queen hir dresse,
To gon disguised, withoute cumpanye,
Onto a prophete* which callid was Achye, 1580
Hym to requere, treuli for to seye
Whethir the child sholde lyue or deye.
1551. This is R. 1554. in] on H. 1559. Been] Bien B.
1562. tydyngis R. 1563. Began R — fuQom. R.
1564. myd] m the myddis R. 1570. from] for B.
1574. as] riht as R.
1575. on] also on R, om. H, J, R 3, H 5, P.
1580. a] the H — On taprophete B — was] is H — Ahye P.
1552
243
1548 *°*^ while they
sat at meat
together, God
said to Jadan,
"For breaking
my command-
ment, thou
shalt be slain
by a lion and
never return (o
thy country."
Jadan was not
pleased to hear
this, but never-
theless it came
1504 to pass.
and Jeroboam
continued in
hit iniquity.
His son Abijah
feU ill, and he
bade the queen
go disguised to
the prophet
Ahijah for ad-
244 ^0^ threatens Jeroboam's Wife ^bk. ii
But God And in his inward sihte contemplatifF,
shewed Ahijah y^ i i -t i i • i • •
that it was Cjod shcwcd hym bi cleer inspeccioun, 1584
wife who came Off Icroboam how she was the wifF,
to him, Yqx al hir sleihti transformaciouw.
For nouther fallas nor fals decepcioun
May be to God, but it be parceyued; 1588
For he nys prophetis may nat be deceyued.
and he told her She Cam to hym in a strauwge weede;
Jeroboam, that At thcntryng he callid hir bi hir name:
raised him ^ " Com foorth," quod he, " for it is no neede 1592
!o°T king,''''" To hide thi-silfF[e], as it were for shame;
For the trouthe treuli to attame,*
God hath youe me fulH knowlechyng
What thou shalt answere & seyn onto the kyng. 1596
ungra\'efu1 Tnd ^ey pleynli to hym, & marke it in thi thouht,
an idolater, j^ ^hi repair these woordis rehersyng,
*Sith God hath maad the, & reised the up off nouht,
From a seruaunt to regnen as a kyng, 1600
Fro Dauidis kyn, most worthi[ly] regnyng,
Partid the kyngdam & youen it onto the,
And thou onkynde therofF canst nothyng see, —
and had for- His gtcte gooducssc is out off tcmembrauwce, i6o4
goodness to FulH forgetyn off thi froward pride;
In fals[e] goddis put thyn affiauwce,
God aboue falsli set a-side,
Wherfore from the anon he shal deuyde 1608
Thy kyngdam hool, withoute mor delay,
And fro thi lyne the crowne take away.
God would take And fot thou hast to thi confusioun
from him and Thi feith, oufeithful, to falsc goddis take, 1612
his line and let 117 i- r j . 1 • 1
dogs eat their Wrongh retused thi relegeoun
Off God aboue, & pleynh hym forsake.
This thende which that thou shalt make:
The and thi kyn no man may socoure; 1616
Flessh, skyn and bon houndis shal deuoure.
1583. his] hir H. 1587. neithir R.
1589. nys] ne his R, J, P, nor his H, R 3 — he nys] henys H 5.
1591. hir callid R. 1592. for] for certis R.
1594. tattame B. 1596. answere & seyn] make answere R.
1597. pleyn R. 1598. these] ther H. 1601. worthi J.
1603. theroff] om. R.
1607. God] And god R — settist R.
1609. Thy] this H, The R. 1610. schal take R.
1615. This is the eende R — that] om. R.
carcasses.
BK. Il]
Abijab makes War on Jerohoam
And at thentryng horn to thi cite,
Thi sone and his, thou shalt fynde hym ded,
Off al his kyn thouh ther was non but he 1620
Founde veray good[e]; tak heeroff good heed.' "
Off which answere the queen fill in gret dreed,
Entryng the cite in especiall,
Hir child was ded, & lay cold be the wall. 1624
Off this wamyng the kyng took non heed, [p.
But made hym redi with ful gret apparaile, —
Fourti thousand with hym he dede leed
Off manli men armed in plate & maile.
With kyng Abias to haue a gret bataile.
The which Abias, that was off luda kyng.
Onto his peeple saide at ther meetyng:
" 0 noble knyhtis, hath o thyng in memorie,* 1632
No man venquysshith, platli to conclude.
With gret peeple, nor getith hym victorie
With noumbres hepid nor gret multitude;
Fals ydolatres, God will hem dillude, 1636
Nat suffre his seruauntis that be trewe & sad
Off mescreantis to been ouerlad.
245
"And you'll
find your ton
dead when you
go home."
108] T>e king
didn t care, and
set out to fight
Abijah, king of
Judah, who told
, _ his soldiers that
1028 God would not
allow an idola-
ter to defeat
them.
Tryumphe is non founde off newe or old
In these ydoles off ston nor siluer sheene.
Nor in caluere off metal maad or gold,
Youe to that parti which ontreuli meene.
And sithe that God knoweth our quarel cleene,
Ther is non hope, force non nor myht 1644
With hem that grounde hem a cause ageyn[e]s ryht.
Hope off victorie* stant on rihtwisnesse,
Off them that caste ther synful liff tamende.
And list forsake wrong and al falsnesse, 1648
And with hool herte onto the Lord entende;
Which shal this day his grace to you sende,
1622. queen] kvng R.
1624. Hir] His'R — wall] way R.
1626. ful] om. R.
1629. kyng] om. H, R 3 — to haue a gret bataile] to haven
in bataile R.
1632. hath] haue R. 1632,34. memoire, victoire B.
1634. nor] neithir R, om. H — hym] om. R, J, P.
1636. ydolatreris R. 1639. Tryumphes R — or] nor R.
1640. nor] & R. 1641. caluere] caluys R, calues P, R 3.
1644. nor] ne R. 1646. victoire B.
1649. hool] the hool R. 1650. his] om. H.
and that the
gc4den calves
1640 would be of no
avail to Jero-
boam.
"Hope of vic-
tory stands on
righteousness,"
said he.
246 The Fall of Jeroboam [bk. ii
Our trewe cause iustly* to termyne."
And thus Abias gan his tale fyne. 1652
Fifty thousand His precstls gan ther truwpes for to blowe;
of Jeroboams » i i a i • i i i • i m
men were slain, And Jcyng Abias thotuh his hih renouw
GafF to his peeple, bothe to hih & lowe,
Ful manli confort and consolaciouw. 1656
And fiftl thousand be computacioun
Wer slayn that day, which ful proudli cam
Vpon the parti off kyng leroboam.
and Jeroboam And al the patti ofF Icroboam, 1660
and all his Ime .1.1 r ^ rr i • ^ 1
were eaten by And al that wcqejn oiT his lyne born,
°^'' Afftir this bataile onto myscheefF cam,
Whan thei were slayn, with houwdis al to-torn.
As the prophete hadde hem told beforn. 1664
But for the kyng took therofF non heed.
With sodeyn vengaunce God quit hym his meed.
[How Zareas Kyng of Ethiope was slayn in bataile.] ^
After Jeroboam, A FFTIR hym to Bochas dcdc appeere,
Zerah, king of f-\ ,^ . "' , , ,. t r J
Ethiopia and -*. A. JNext m otdte pleynii, as 1 rynde, 1668
India, appeared, ^^ rj • i r i i
almost blind for On Aareas, with a sorwerul cheere.
LITetn^de-''' And he was kyng ofF Ethiope and Ynde,
we°akh ^nd"^'' Whos cyett wem almost with wepyng blynde,
slain in battle Praieng myn auctour, his onhappi chaunce 1672
by Kmg Asa. i i r i • i
With othre wotui to putte in remembraunce,
And that he wolde recorden be scripture
His sodeyn fall and dolorous distresse,
And his difFamous hatful disconfiture, 1676
With the dispoilyng ofF his gret richesse.
And how kyng Asaph, thoruh his hih noblesse,
Myd* his peeple, as he dede hym assaile,
Hath hym venquysshid & slay[e]n in bataile. 1680
165 1, iustly] treuli B, truly J, P, trewly H 5.
1652. his tale] take his R. 1656. manli] many H.
1659. kyng] om. R.
1669. 3oreas H.
1 67 1, wit^ wepyng almost R.
1672. his] that his H.
1676. diffamous] famous R — scomfiture H.
1678. hih] am. H — Asaph] Asa P.
1679. Myd] And B, J, H 5, P, Amyd R 3 InmyddisR.
1 MS. J. leaf 45 recto.
BK. Il]
Adaby Zimri and Ahab
247
paow Adab kyng of lenwalem lost sceptre &
crowne.] ^
OFF Israel than cam the woful kyng
Callid Adab, ful pitousli wepyng,
Onto Bochas his compleynt rehersyng,
How kyng Basa, be subtil fals werkyng, 1684
With sodeyn slauhtre caused his fallyng,
Whan Fortune gan falsH [on hym] frowne,
And took oniustli from hym sceptre & crowne.
Next, King
Adab came to
complain of his
sudden slaugh-
ter by King
Baasha.
[How the vengeable prince Zambrias set a toure on
fire and brent himsilf .] ^
NEXT cam Zambrias, a prince [ful] vengable, 1688 zimri, a
Which slouh kyng Helam be fals tresoun, prince, who
That fond also Fortune ful onstable;
For this Zambrias off entencioun
Hath moordrid hym withynne the cheefFdongoun 1692
Off his castell, with a ful gret[e] route,
As he onwarli laide a siege aboute.
But Amaryn, a prynce off ful gret myht,
Cam into Tharse, a famous strong cite,
And cast hym pleynli, lik a worthi knyht.
On this Zambrias auenged for to be,
Hym to destroie withoute merci or pite.
But into a* tour as Zambrias wente.
Set it affire, and so hymsilff he brente.
burnt himself
up in a tower
1696 to escape pun-
ishment at the
hands of Omri.
1700
[OS. Kyng Achab & lezabel his wifF.] ^
WYTH sihhes sore & wepyng inportable,
Cam kyng Achab onto lohn Bochas,
Whos hertli sorwe was incomparable.
And, compleynyng, ful offte [he] seide, alas!
Besechyng hym to write his woful cas,
1681. woful] wolful R.
1682. Adas R, Nadab P. 1688. ful] om. H, J.
1689. fals] ful fals H, R 3, H 5. 1695. Amri P.
1696. into] to H — Tharsa P. 1697. worthi] manly R.
1699] om. R. 1700. inta B, in a R.
1701. he] om. R, R 3.
1704. hertli] erthly H. 1705. ful] of R.
^ MS. J. leaf 45 recto. *MS. J. leaf 45 verso.
King Ahab,
with importable
weeping, be-
sought Bochas
1 704 to write his
and his daugh-
ter Athaliah'g
stor>-.
248 Ahab and Jezehel [^bk. ii
Compile his fallyng and the fate ifeere
Off AthaHa his owne douhter deere. 1708
He was a To God aboue most contrarious [p. 109]
wicked man rr>i • a i i • i i •
and had a 1 his Achab was m al his gouernauwce,
S'wifrcan^" And hadde a wifF cruel and lecherous
Jezebel. CalHd lezabcl, which set al hir plesauwce 171a
On Godis prophetis for to do vengauwce:
In the Bible ther malice men may see,
And ydolatres* thei were, bothe he and she.
Both were God fot thet ttespacis, as it was weel seyn, 1716
idolaters, and » rr- i i i 1 •
God first pun- Aitorshewed be trewe prophesie,
with three' Sente thre yeer nouther deuh nor reyn
drouth!^ Vpon the erthe ther greyn to multeplie;
Till efft ageyn, bi praier off Helie, 1720
Holsum watres from heuene gan descende.
Which gafF hem cause ther cursid liff tamende.
But Jezebel, an But his wifF, that cutsid lezabel,
woman, slew 300 To ech thyng hatful which that was dyuyne, 1724
Md°es Naboth'for An huwdted prophetis she slouh in Israel,
his vineyard, q^^^ g^^j f^j. ^j^^j ^^* ^^^di^ enclyne;
And she also slouh Naboth for his vyne,
Thoruh whos outrage & fals oppressiouw 1728
Achab was brouht to his confusiouw.
Not long after Off his enmyes outraied in bataile,
fatally wounded With a shatp arwc cauht his fatal wouwde,
was devou"ed* Till al his blood be bledyng dede raile* 1732
EHjfh^prophe- Aboutc his chaar, with many dropis rouwde;
sied, That the woordis wer ful trewe fouwde
Off Helias, which told hym, as it stood,
That huMgri houwdis sholde likke his blood. 1736
and Jezebel fell In a citc, than calHd lezrael,
out of a tower. i-x /• • i 11
Beware, Princes, Doun irom 3 tout loynyng to the wall,
of false counsel rTr-.i •jri ll'JT LI
given by your 1 hc said[ej quecH, callid lezabel,
wives. ^^g ouercast & hadde a dedli fall. 1740
Touchyng these myscheuys, for she was cause of all,
1707. his] J)e H — the] his R.
1710. al] om. R. 1714. may men R.
1715. ydolastres B, ydolatreris R. 1716. ther] his H.
1718. neithir dewe ne R. 1723. that] this R.
1726. ne] nat B, H 5 — wold not R, wolde nat J, would not P.
1731. With] OfF R. 1732. raile] fayle B, H, R, J, H 5, R 3,
V, y other MSS. and prints.
1737. In] And in R — than] om. R — J)at was callid leziael H.
1738. the] a R.
BK. Il]
The Story of Athaliah
249
Bewar ye Pryncis, remembryng al your lyues,
Teschewen fals counsail youen by your wyues.
1756
[Ofif queene Gatholia for Mr tyrannye slayn.] ^
NEXT to Achab in ordre dede sue 1744
Gatholia, with doolful contenaunce
Bochflj- besechyng, as she thouht it due,*
Hir sodeyn fall to putte in remembraunce.
Sours and chefFroote ofFsorwe and myschaunce, 1748
Vsurpacioun and off fals couetise,
Lik as hir story heeraftir shal deuise.
She was vpreised be fauour in thre thynges;
For fader, brother, and also hir husbonde 1752
Wer in that tyme echon crownyd kynges,
With sceptre and suerd, as ye shal vndirstonde.
Many emprises ther daies took on honde;
And how Fortune ther hihnesse dede assaile,
I caste shortli to make rehersaile.
She fill off Fortune in thunhappi boundis.
First whan hir fader was with an arwe ded.
His blood vplikked with cruel hungri houndis,
A-boute his chaar[e] rennyng doun ful red.
His bodi pale lay, who that took heed,
Lik a careyn, naked and dispoiled.
With foul blak erthe myd the feeld isoiled.
Cause of a-nother onhappi heuynesse
And ofF hir dedli desolacioun,
Was, the peeple felli dede hem dresse
Off Arabie in ther rebellioun
Ageyn hir husbonde, off entencioun
To robbe his tresour to ther auauntage.
And his richesse be outraious pillage.
1760
Athaliah, who
followed Ahab,
was fortunate
in that her
father, brother
and husband
were kings;
but her father
was slain, and
his body lay
like carrion,
soiled with
earth in the
field.
1764
1768
Another cause
of sorrow to
her was that
the people of
Arabia rebelled
against her
husband
1741. this myscheefF R. 1742. al] of R.
1744. dede] ther did R.
1745. Athalia P — ful doolful R.
1746. she thouht it due] hym thouhte due B.
1748. sorwe and myschaunce] myschefF & sorowe R.
1752. hir] om. R. 1757. caste] purpose R.
1762. good heed R. 1763. careyn] bareyn R.
1764. foul] ful R, H, full R 3 — myd] in myddis R, amyd
H, R 3, P — isoiled] yspoiled R.
1766. ofF] om. H. 1767. Was] Was whan R — did felly R.
^MS. J. leaf 45 verso.
250 Athaliah slays David's Kin [byl. ii
siet'^hl's^tub*"'^ Sumwe off his meyne thel puttyn in prisouw — 1772
jects. Her ThcF was agcyii hem maked no difFence, —
husband was r, j i • i i
infected by the bparccl nouthcr Cite, Doruh nor touw,
dieir ^" Slouh man and child be sturdi violence.
Hir lord infect with sodeyn pestilence, 1776
Conceyued fulli bi his maladie,
There was no geyn but he muste [nedis] deie.
»"<^ *^= , , . Afftir his deth, most wrechchid and odible,
stench of his _ . ' i • i i- r ii i
body was so His body corupt, his bowelis fell doun; 1780
awful that no- r\{V i ' i i i -i i
body would Urt his careyn the stench was so horible,
htsTepu"hre. Their infect aboute hym enviroun
With so gret horrour and putrefacciouw,
That no man myhte abiden nor endure 1784
To brynge his bodi onto sepulture.
Her third mis- Hir thHdde onhapp, wheroff she was ful fayn
fortune was the ^^ i- i • rr -i
death of her 1 hat 1< ortune list hir eitt assaile,
joram, after Made hir vncle, kyng loram, to be slayn 1788
slew all the With an arwe, as he fledde in bataile.
soTs^o^b^"''''^ She supposyng it gretli sholde auaile,
sole ruler of LJj^ ^ womau most furious and wood,
Judea. . ^ '
She off kyng Dauid slouh al the roial blood. 1792
Hir purpos was to gouerne al the rewm, [p. no]
Alone hirsilfF ta dominaciouw.
To regne in luda and Jerusalem,
This Gatholia be vsurpacioun. 1796
And for that cause in hir entenciouw.
With mortal suerd she made all tho to fyne
That were descendid from Dauid doun be lyne.
Except joash, Exccpt ou loas thet lefFte non alyue, 1800
none of David's Child off z ycet, sone ofF kyng Ochosie,
ai'iveTYnd^ Whom losakcth, the story doth descryue,
wTs^'saUd'hy Off verai pite cauhte a fantasie
jehosheba. 'pj^g child to sauc, that he shal nat deie, 1804
From the malice off Gatholia.
And she was wiff to bisshop loiada.
1773. made R. 1774- noutherj] neithir R — nor]] neithir R.
1776. infect] enfectid H, effect R — sodeyn] contagious R.
1778. nedis] om. R, J, H 5. 1780. fell] fall H.
1783. gret] gre H. 1784. nor] ne R.
1786. onhapp] vnhappy R.
1794. ta] to haue R.
1796. Gotholia R, Gathalia H, Athalia P. 1798. to] om. R.
1802. losabeth R, P. 1804. shal] shuld R.
1806. And] As R.
BK. Il]
Atbaliah and Joash
251
1816
1820
She and this bisshop, with hool herte & enteer,
Kepte this child in ful secre wise
Withynne the temple the space off seuene yeer,
And in the seuente, the story doth deuise,
loiada took on hym this emprise:
Yonge loas withynne a certeyn day
Be iust[e] title to crowne hym yifF he* may.
His massageris he sendith out anon.
Off pryncis, tribunes gan a counseil call,
Off preestis eek, and leuytes euerichon.
And whan he hadde discured to hem all
Hool his entent, thus it is befall:
Sworn and assentid, as it was sittyng,
That yonge loas shal be crownyd kyng.
"For be promys, which that is dyuyne,"
Quod loiada, "yiff ye taken heede,
God hath behestid to Dauid and his lyne,
And assurid onto his kynreede,
In Jerusalem how thei shal succeede;
And thouh loas be yong & tendr<f off myht,
He to the crowne hath neuer-the-lesse ryht.
In this mateer I wil nat that ye slepe.
But to shewe your trewe deligence,
On foure parties the temple for to keepe.
That no man entre be no violence;
And in the myddis, be roial excellence,"
Quod this bisshop, "no man shal us lette,
On loas hed a crowne for to sette."
And whan ech thyng was brouht onto the poynt,
His hih estat tencrece and magnefie.
The peeple anon, whan he was enoynt,
" Fiuat rex!" thei began to crie.
And whan Gatholia gan this thyng espie.
For veray ire and the sodeyn wonder,
Off malencoli hir clothes kitte assonder.
Ran to the temple and gan make affray
With hir meyne, and to crie loude,
Bad hem go slen, and make no delay, 1844
vrife of Bishop
Jehoiada. For
1S08 seven years
they kept
young Joash in
the temple.
Then Jehoiada
called a coun-
cil and pro-
1812 ^^ V X.
crown Joash
kins.
as God had
promised that
David's line
should rule in
Jerusalem.
1824
1828 "^'° n^*" **i»ll
prevent our
setting a crown
on his head."
1832
\Mien Joash
was anointed,
1836 the people cried,
"Long live the
King!"
Athaliah
ran to the
temple in a
fury and bade
1840 ^" ™«i *'?y
^ the young lung.
cret H. 1813. he] she B, J, R 3, H.
id] & to R. 1824. onto] to H. i
] for to H. 1839. tespye H.
secret H
an"
1808.
1823.
1030. tOj i\jj \.\j xi. lo^y. Lcsijyc n.
1841. kutte R, cutte H. 1844. go] to H.
830. On] of H.
252 The Death of Athaliah [bk. ii
The yonge kyng, in al the haste thel coude:
Hir venym hid vnder a couert cloude,
Al attonys hir purpos to recure,
Be sodeyn mahce she gan that day discure. 1848
The temple Xhc temple kept, entre had she non,
however was __. , '■ . *, . . .
well guarded, Fceplc ordcyncd awaityng tor the nonys;
and she was a i :i! i i r i
seized by the And OF* she myhte any rerthere gon,
8oon"aFtema"rds Clenli armed, the centurionys 1852
put to death, 'pjjg cruel queen assailed al attonys.
And off hir malice to writen a short tale,
Thei slouh hir afftir off Cedron in the vale.
Lo, this is the Loo, heer the eende off moordre and tirannye; 1856
end of murder tii ^ rr •
and tyranny! Loo, heer the eende oit vsurpaciouw;
Noble Princes, y 1 i i rr r i
beware of doing Loo, heer the eende on tais conspiracye;
fd°hlir8."^'^^ Loo, heer the eende off fals presumpciouw!
Born rihtful heires, wrongli to put hem douw. i860
O noble Pryncis, thouh God hath maad you strong.
To rihtful heires be war ye do no wrong!
^ Lenvoye.
These tragedies ^ ■ ''HESE tragedies testatis & degrees,
warned by God, A Fulli declarcth the decepciouws 1864
ml from^heir OfF Fottunys fals mutabilitees
""'• Shewed in provyncis, citees and eek touns.
Pryncis onwarli lost ther posessiouns.
Which from ther synnes, in no maner wise, — 1868
Hadde off God warnyng, and list nat for to rise.
Mighty kings Mihti kynges cast doun from ther sees,
were cast down -^ , , 1,1
unawares from Loste ther lyucs and ther regeouns,
j^robolm'for Onwarli throwe from ther felicitees: 1872
oppre°sk)nT *'"' leroboam for his oppressiouws
And for his froward fals oblaciouns
Doon to ydoles, his story doth deuise.
Had off God warnyng, & list nat for to rise. 1876
1846] om. R. 1851. or] ar B.
1855. Thei] The R — ofF] corrected to on or at H.
i860, to] om. H, R 3.
1863. These tragedies testatis] This tragedie the astatis R —
testatis] to estates P.
1865. Fortunys] fortune R.
1869. aryse R.
BK. Il]
An Envoy on evil Princes
253
Achab also hadde gret aduersitees
Thoruh fals counsail and exortaciouns
Off lezabel, roote off iniquitees;
Dede to his peeple gret extorsiouns:
She slouh prophetis, Godis champiouns.
Bothe he and she, most cursid in ther guise.
Had off God wamyng, & list nat for to rise.
Gathalia with hir duplicitees
And conspired fals intrusiouns
Slouh Dauides seed, tentre ther dignitees.
And to possede ther domynaciouns;
But for hir hatful fals collusiouns
Onwarly slayn, for hir gret couetise,
Had off God wamyng, & list nat for to rise.
Pryncis remembreth in your prosperitees.
And seeth afom in your discreciouns.
Wrong clymbyng up of statis or degrees,
Outher be moordre or be fals tresouns,
Axeth a fall for ther fynal guerdouns;
Namli off them that the Lord despise.
And for his wamyng list nat for to rise.
[p. Ill]
1880
Ahab for hit
extortioos, and
his abominable
wife Jezcbd,
who slew all
the prophets:
Athaliah
for murdering
David's de-
scendants.
Princes, remem-
ber in your
1892 prosperity that
wrongful usur-
pation either by
murder or
treason invites
a faU.
1896
[^ow Dido queen of Cartage slouh hirsilf for con-
seniacion of hir chastite.] ^
NOW must I putte my reud[e] stile in pres.
To queen Dido make my passage:
Hir lord Siche was preest to Hercules,
Hir fadir Belus, falle into gret age,
Kyng off Tire, and she queen off Cartage.
And it is rad in bookis that be trewe.
How first in Tire was founde purpil hewe.
Dido, queen of
Carthage, was
the wife of
Sychseus; her
1900 father, Belus,
king of Tyre,
invented purple.
1904
1877. This stanza is omitted in R. 1878. cownseiles H.
1880. his] hir H. 1884. Athalia R, H, P, Athalya H 5.
1885. intrusiouns] entenciouns H.
1886. Dau>-this R, H — tentre] tencres H.
1890. arv'se R.
1891. in] om. H. 1893. statis or] estatis & R.
1894. moordre] word R. 1895. ther] the H.
1897. his] no R.
1900. Siche] Sicheus H, P.
1901. Belus] Bolas R.
^ MS. J. leaf 46 verso.
254 Dido, ^ueen of Carthage [bk. ii
Cadi^s in- Cadmus fond first lettres for to write,
alphabet, and Gaff hcm to Grckis, as maad is menciouw,
discovered Whos brothcr Fenix, as clerkis eek endite,
vermfiion. Fond first the colour off vermelioun. 1908
And off Cartage, the famous myhti toun,
This said[e] Dido, hir story doth expresse,
How she was bothe queen and fouwderesse;
Dido's husband, But hir husbonde was cheeff lord and sire, 1912
slain for' his CalUd Sicheus, ful famous off renouw,
brother Pyg" Off this noble cite named Tire,
ma ion, Hadde gret tresour & gret possessions.
And for envie kyng Pigmaliouw, 1916
Brother to Dido, this Siche slouh in deede.
Off fals entent his richesse to posseede.
and Dido in Dido this slauhttc took greuousli at herte,
her grief fled . " .
from Tyre with Sote complcynyng this onhappi chauwce, 1920
her husband's /-^ t ii tpi i
treasure. Caste she woldc, yiit she myhte asterte,
Fleen out off Tire and hirsilff auaunce,
With al the tresour and the habundauwce
Behynde lefft whan hir lord was ded, 1924
Hir shippis entryng, went away for dreed.
Knowing the She knew & dradde the gredi auarice
Pygmalion, Off hir brother, kyng Pigmaliouw,
And how that hatful onstauwchable vice 1928
Was ground and roote & cheeff occasioun
Whi that hir lord was slay[e]n in that toun.
For whom ful offte she cried welaway,
Whos deth was cause whi she fledde away. 1932
she felt certain She hadde also this opynyouw,
mained he Which causcd most hir hertli heuynesse,
injure her. ° That sithe hir brothir, kyng Pigmalioun,
Hadde slayn hir lord for his gret richesse, 1936
Yiff she abod, that he wolde hym dresse,
Parcel for malice, parcel for couetise,
To haue hir tresour sum tresoun to practise.
1910. hir] the R.
1914. named] callid J, was callid H.
1919. greuousH] gretly R. 1920. this] his R.
1923. and] & al R. 1924. whan] whanne whan R.
1928. onstaunchable] vnstable R, vnchaungeable H.
1932. whi] whi J)at R.
1935. sithe] sih R.
BK. Il]
Dido founds Carthage
And for teschewe his malice and tresoun,
For hir nauye she maketh ordenaunce
Bauys off them, in whom, as be resoun,
She sholde off riht sette hir affiaunce.
And thei ful redy hir to do plesaunce,
Be on assent, for nothyng wolde faile,
With faire Dido out off that lond to saile.
In Cipre first was hir arryuaile;
And ther she fond[e] be a ryuer side,
Off yong[e] maidnes, with ful riche apparaile,
Sexti and ten in the same tide.
Which in the temple off Venus dede abide,
Afftir the custom, as I can reporte,
Off Cipriens straungeris to disporte.
And in ther moste feithful humble wise,
Afftir the rihtis off Cipre the cuntre.
Onto Venus ech day do sacrefise,
Them to conserue in ther virgenyte,
Duryng ther liff to lyue in chastite,
Neuer to been ioyned in mariage;
And with queen Dido thei went* to Cartage.
In ther passage fill a gret meracle,
As Seruyus maketh mencioun;
For Dido took off luno this oracle,
Outher baperv'ng or bi auisioun,*
Off Cartage to beelde that myhti toun.
And at reuerence off that gret goddesse,
She to tho parties faste gan hir dresse, *
The said[e] cite statli for to founde.
And hir werkmen, as thei therthe souhte.
An oxes hed off auenture thei founde;
And to queen Dido anon the hed thei brouhte,
Menyng wheroff to serchyn out she* thouhte.
And hir clerkis in ther dj-uynaile,
Tolde it was tokne off seruage & trauaile.
1942, Bau3-s] Be a devis R. 1944. hir] for R.
1954. in ther] the H. 1958. ther] the R.
i960, went] wenten B, R, J — to] vn to H.
1962. maketh] make R.
1964. bi appenng J, R, H, P, R 3, H 5 — or] outhir H, H 5 —
auisioun] dyuysion R, aduisioun J, P, a vision R 3 — or bi
auisioun] outher bauysioun B.
1971. anon the hed] the hed anon R, H, H 5.
1972. Menyng] Mevj-ng R — she] thei B, J.
1940 ^ °° ^^^ *'^"
vice of her
nobles she
sailed away
from Tyre,
1944
and £rst ar-
rived in Cy-
1948 prus, where she
found seventy
maidens, priest-
esses of the
temple
1952
of Venus,
vowed to
chastity, who
accompanied
,956hg^oCar-
i960
[p. 112] When Carthage
was founded
a great miracle
occurred, as
Scrvius tells:
1964
1968
19-2
Dido's work-
men unearthed
the head of
an ox while
digging, and
her wise men
told her that
it was a token
of servitude.
256 Dido founds Carthage [bk. ii
For which she lefFte to beeldyn [in] that place,
And gan remeue, as she ouhte off riht; 1976
And fro then[ne]s but a litil space
A soil she fond ful delectable off siht;
And as hir werkmen with ther ful[le] myht
The ground gan serche, anon, or thei took heed, 1980
The stori tellith, thei fond an horsis hed.
So she began And bi expownyng off hir dyuynours,
and found a Fond [that] this beeste gretli myhte auaile
horse's head, ^^ • o i • «
which was a Unto ptyncis & myhti conquerours, 1984
/Sid tliere "she Necessatie* in werre and in bataile.
built Carthage, ^j^j f^^ ^^ ^j}^^ j^jj. noblessc sholde assaile,
Cartage she bilte, off so gret excellence,
Geyn all enmyes to stonden at diffence. 1988
Some books say Suwme bookis declare and specefie,
chased as much Dido dcde as moche lond purchace
land as could a i • 11
be surrounded As a skyn in tound myhte ocupie
by an ox's skin.Q^f ^^ ^^^^ ^j^^^.^^^ ^^ j^^^jj^ ^ pj^^^. ^^^^
The ground cumpasid took a large space.
Which strongli bilt, thus it is befall,
Afftir the skyn men dede it Birsa call.
and when the And whan this cite myhtili was wallid, 1996
city was walled ^ rr • i i i i
it took the AJttir a skyn, wrouht be good curray,
an? Birsa"fw/ The name take, Carta it was callid, —
the skin. Lethir off Birsa, pleynli this no nay.
Took eek his name duryng many a day, — 2000
Carta and Birsa knet in ther language,
As moch to seyne as this woord Cartage.
Mrica"fnd''was And in Afftik stant the teritorie
built in honour Whet she bilte this cite delectable, 2004
of Juno, m the , , • • i i i •
time of David, jh ouwded It m laude and m memorie
Off myhti luno, the goddesse honourable.
The cite wallid, with tour[e]s strong & stable,
1975. in] om. H, R 3, J, H 5.
1977. but] om. H. 1978. delitable R.
1981. horsis] horse H, R 3, P, hors J, H 5.
1983. that] om. J, H, P, H 5, R3 — Fond] & H.
1985. Necessaire B. 1988. Ageyn R.
1993. ful large R. 1994. bilt] belte R 3, bylded P.
1997. curray] coraie R, Corray H.
1999. pleinli this no nay] this is no way R.
2000. a] om. R. 2004. dehtable R.
2005. 2nd in] om. H.
2007. The] This R.
BK. Il]
Dido refuses to marry again
257
Tyme ofF kyng Dauid myd the fourte age,
As I seide erst, callid it Cartage.
With gret worshepe she regned in that toun,
Euer off purpos to lyue in chastite;
And round aboute floured the renoun
Off hir prudence and hir honeste.
Til the report off hir famous beute
Cam to the eris, which gladli wil nat hide,
Off a kyng that duellid ther beside.
Off Musitan[e]s he was lord and sire.
As poetis pleynii list descryue,
Which in his herte gretli gan desire
The queen Dido bi hir assent to wyue.
Onto hir grace yiff he myhte aryue.
But for she hadde auowed chastite,
She neuer caste maried for to be.
The kyng supprised with loue in his corage
For hir wisdam and hir gret beute,
Sent[e] for the pryncis off Cartage,
On this mater to han a gret trete.
To condescende, yiff it myhte be,
Lich his desir, in al ther beste entent,
Doon ther deuer to make hir to consent.
With his request he gan hem eek manace,
Yiff he failed off his entencioun,
Lik his desir to stonden in hir grace,
Saide he wolde been enmy to ther toun,
Tordeyne be force for ther destruccioun.
Nat fulli sobre, nor fulli in a rage,
This was to hem pleynii his language.
But for thei knew hir gret[e] stedfastnesse,
And hir herte veray inmutable,
Thei were affer[e]d any woord texpresse.
Lest ther answere wer nat acceptable
To his hihnesse, for he was nat tretable.
Eek in ther conceit thei gan also recorde.
To his desir the queen wold nat accorde.
2009. it] is R, H.
2017. Musicans H, R 3. 2020. The] To R.
2026. ofTjofalR. 2031. eek] owt. R.
2033. stoden R. 2034. he] that he R — ther] the R.
2035. be force] repeated in R — for] to H, R 3.
2039. immutable R, H. 2042. he was] thei wem R.
2008
Dido reigned in
great prosperity
until a neigh-
bouring king
2012 heard of her
beauty
2016
and wanted to
have her for
his wife, al-
though she had
vowed ne%'er
again to marry.
2024
He sent for the
princes of Car-
thage to treat
of a marriage
2028
and threatened
to use force if
2032 he failed in his
purpose.
2036
The princes of
Carthage knew
that Dido
would never
2040 break her vow.
2044
258
Dido will yield to no Threats
[bk. II
fixed in her
purpose
and told her
princes
so they tem- With good auys an answere thei purueie [p. 113]
Dido remained To his purpos in parti fauorablc,
AfFerd he wolde ther noble touw werreie.
Or off disdeyn vpon hem be vengable. 2048
But queen Dido, in hir entent ay stable,
Caste she wolde, what-euer thei hir tolde,
Hir chast auow feithfulli to holde.
She set a-side off this cruel kyng
His fell manacis & his woordis grete;
And to hir pryncis for ther consentyng,
Which stood in feer off that he dede hem threte,
She onto hem gaff a maner hete,
For thei wer bold tattempten or tattame
To trete off mater rebouwdyng to hir shame.
"Nay, rather deie," quod she, "than tassente
grant the kiirg''sTo his dcsits, which thyng God forbeede,
demand. /--. r i rr \
Ur iro the centre oit my chast entente
For to remeue, outher in thouht or deede, —
Which were disclauwdre to al womanheede,
To condescende for any manacyng
To breke my vow for plesauwce off a kyng.
Touchyng manacis maad to this cite.
For to destroie it with his gret[e] myht,
Withoute cause or title off equite
To grouwden hym a quarell ageyn riht,
Onli for he is blyndid in his siht
With froward lust my chast auow tassaile,
Beth riht weel seur how he theroff shal faile.
that she would
rather die than
"Be sure, he
will fail in
spite of his
threats.
2052
2056
2060
2064
2068
2072
"If you were
men, you
Yiff ye wer bold and manli off corage,
wouiYnot con- For comouw profit your cite to defende,
descend to treat » i • i i i • • ■
with him. And to withstonde his vicious outrage,
To trete with hym ye wold nat condescende. 2076
But myn entent, platli to comprehende,
Wher* it to you be ioie or displesauwce,
In my promys shal be no variaunce.
2057. tattame] attame H. 2058. rebowndith H.
2060. his] hir R.
2061. centre] contre H, tentre J, P; in B the c in centre is very
much like a t.
2066. manacyng R. 2067. with] thoruh R — gret] om. R.
2070. blynde R. 2072. how] om. R.
2075. his] your R.
2078. Wher] Whethir B, H, J, P, R 3 — it] it be J, P — be]
om. R.
BK.
n]
Dido asks for Three Months* Time
259
My lord Sicheus, the which, alas, is ded
Onto the world[e], who[-so] list aduerte;
Trustith riht weel, for manacyng nor dreed,
That he shal neuer deien in myn herte,
Nor ye shal neuer myn auow peruerte.
Thus auysed, whil that I stonde fre,
Queen off" Cartage to gouerne this cite.
Myn hasti answere, I pray you nat disdeyne.
But that ye list to gyue me liberte.
With your support that I may atteyne
To haue a space graunted onto me:
This to meene, the space off monthes thre,
Mi lordis will taccomplissh* ofFentent,
Which he whilom made in his testament."
Vnder colour to hir auauntage
She took this space, bookis specefie.
That she myhte hir cite off Cartage
The mene while strongli fortefie
Ageyn hir enmyes, that for no slogardrie
Off them that wolde hir hih estat confounde,
Onpurueied hir cite nat be* founde.
Whan thre monthes passed were & gon,
She afFtir wolde, for hir hertli plesaunce,
With sundri rihtes, many mo than on.
To all hir goddis doon sum obseruaunce.
For a special synguler remembraunce
Off hym that was, as folk shal vnderstonde.
Whilom hir lord & best beloued husbonde.
And mor texalte his glorie* & his honour,
Heeld his exequies, be due reuerence,
Off al Cartage in the hiest tour.
With brennyng fir, fumys and encence,
Hir pryncis all beyng in presence;
To which she gan declare in compleynyng,
Hir dedli sorwe, doun from hir tour lokyng.
2080 "Fo"- rr.y part,
I will keep my
promise whether
it please you or
not, so long as
I am Queer, of
Carthage.
2084
"Give me three
months in
2088 which to exe-
cute my hus-
band's testa-
ment."
2092
In the mean-
time she for-
tified her city.
2096
After the three
months had
passed, she did
observance to
the gods
2104
2108 '■^^ held the
funeral rites of
her husband
with fire and in-
cense in thehigh-
est tower and
bade farewell to
her friends,
praying them to
report after her
death, that Dido
was married but
2080. the]om. R. 2081. who so] who H, J, P, H 5, R 3.
2084. myn auow] my vowe R. 2088. list] lust R.
2092. taccomplisshen B. 2093. whilom] sumtyme R.
2098. that] om. R — slugardie R, slugardye H.
2099. hih] om. R. 2100. be] ne B, H, R', H 5.
2101. thre] the R. 2107. Whilom] Suwityme R.
2108. 1st his] hir B, P and MSS. except H 5 — gloire B —
2nd his] om. R, R 3, hir H, her P.
26o
Dido dies rather than marry again
Cbk. II
"Go tell the
king that I am
dead; his
threats are in
vain.
"Let him go
el sewhere
and choose
another."
"Farweel my freendis, farweel for euermore!
Onto my lord myn husbonde I mut gon, 21 16
To hym, I meene, that was my lord off yore:
For off husbondis, God wot, I ha[ue] but on;
Praieng you to reporte euerichon
AfFtir my deth, [how] Dido off Cartage 2120
I-ioyned was but onys in manage.
Seith to the kyng, which hath* you manacid,
Mi chast[e] beute that he wolde assaile, —
Go, tellith hym how that I am pacid, 2124
And off his purpos how that he shal faile.
His manacyng shal hym nat auaile.
And seith how Dido deied for the nonys,
For she nat wolde be weddid mor than onys. 2128
Leuere I haue my liff as now to lese, [p. 114]
Rathere than soile my widwes chastite.
Lat hym go ferthere, sum other for to chese; *
For in such cas he shal nat speede off me. 2132
And with the tresour off myn honeste,
Which I ha[ue] treuli obserued al my lyue,
I will departe out off this world now blyue."
And with that And iuto fir, that brente cleer and briht, 2136
she plunged a ^, . . .
knife into her bhe tan m hastc, there is no mor to seyne,
heart and ran p rr ' ^\ i rr • "l.^
into the fire, bauff With a kuyit in euery manys siht
Ful sodenli she roff hir herte on tweyne.
Whos pitous deth the cite gan compleyne, 2140
Sore wepyng for wonder and for routhe.
In a woman to fynde so gret a trouthe.
After her death Afftir hir dcth thei dede ther besynesse
they worshipped r^. , , j j i i c ^ C II
her as a god- lo holdc and halwe a teste lunerall; 2144
and all widow!' Worshcpcd hir lik a chast goddesse,
wept for her ^^j j^j^. comendyn[g] in especiall
To heuenli goddis, & goddis infernall.
And widwes all[e], in ther clothes blake, 2148
At this feste weptyn for hir sake.
2120. how] om. J, P, R 3, H 5.
2122. hath] that B, OOT. J. 2124. Go] And R.
213 1, ferthere] forth R.
2132. Speede] be spedd H.
2135. will] wolde R — out departe R.
2136. fir] ^e fire H.
2139. on]tnR. 2142. a] om. R.
2147. infernall] fernall R.
BK. ii] Lydgates Praise of Dido 261
Touchyng Dido lat ther be no strifF: owd^c^**
Thouh that she be accusid off Guide, Dido of mis-
Afftir Bochas I wrot hir chast[e] lifF, 2152 self with
And the contrary I ha[ue] set a-side; foQow*'Bo^has
For me thouhte it was bet tabide h« chasw °ife
On hir goodnesse, than thyng reherse in deede, °^y-
Which myhte resowne ageyn hir womanheede. 2156
To Eneas thouh she was fauourable, it seems tome
_,_,.,,,. that It IS better
1 o Ytaiie makyng his passage, ^^JT^^ °h '^"
Al that she dede, [it] was comendable, of her failings,
TT ^ l_ /^ ^ , and besides she
Hym to receyue comyng be Cartage; 2160 did nothing but
Thouh sum folk wern large off ther language, p^iLwo^y.
Amysse texpowne be report, or texpresse better*to speak
Thyng doon to hym onli off gentilesse. '■^eii than evil
Ther shal for me be maad no rehersaile 2164
But as I fynde wretyn in Bochas;
For to sey weel may moch[e] more auaile
Than froward speche, in many dyuers cas.
But al Cartage offte seide alas, 2168
Hir deth compleynyng thoruhout ther cite,
Which slouh hirselff tobserue hir chastite.
[^ LenvoyO
OFAIR[E] Dido, most stable in thi constau/ice, F?ir ^^P\- ,
Queen of Cartage, merowr ofFhih noblesse, 2172 noblesse, you
T> ' 1 ' ^ o III died illamining
Kegnyng m glorie' & vertuous habundaunce, aii widowi with
Callid in thi tyme cheefF sours off gentilesse, $^t'' °'
In whom was neuer founde doubilnesse.
Ay off on herte; and so thou dedest fyne, 2176
With liht off trouthe alle widwes tenlumyne.
Chast and onchaungid in thi perseueraunce. Chaste and
• J. iiri' !• 1 steadfast in
And mmutable tounde m thi goodnesse, your pcrsever-
Which neuer thouhtest vpon variaunce, 2180 ^'nMs^was
Force and prudence wardeyns off thi faimesse,
I ha[ue] no language thi vertues to expresse,
Be newe report so cleerli thei [do] shyne;
With liht off trouthe alle widwes tenlumyne. 2184
immutable.
2151. that]om. H. 2152. wryte R, write H.
2159. it] om. J. 2162. report] record H. 2173. gloire B.
2179. immutable R, H, J.
2183. thei] to H — do] om. J, P, H 5, R 3.
262 An Envoy to Widows hy John Lydgate [bk. ii
Lode-star of Q lodc-sterre ofF al good gouernauwce,
good behaviour, .n'. | .,.,"
bridling your All VICIOUS lustis DC wisdam to reprcssc;
soberness, Thi grcnc youth flouryng with al plesauwce,
Thou di[d]st it bridle with vertuous sobirnesse. 2188
Diane demened so chastli thi clennesse,
Whil thou wer soul[e], pleynli to termyne,
With liht off trouthe alle widwes tenlumyne.
and finally Xhi famous bouwtc to put in remembraunce, 2192
innocent purity Thou slouh thisclfF ofF innoccnt peurnesse,
sureness were Lest thi scumcsse wcr hangid in ballauwce,
jeopardise ! q^ svlq)^ as cast them thi chastite toppresse —
Deth was inouh to here therofF witnesse — 2196
Causyng thi beute to al* clennesse tenclyne,
With liht off vertu alle widwes tenlumyne,
^ Lenvoye direct to wydowis of the translatour.^
Noble matrons, "VTOBLE matrones, which han al suffisaunce
such folly as JL ^ OfF womawhed, yowf wittis doth vp dtessc, 2200
that of Dido tt i t-> i* i • i
enter your How that T oFtune list to tumt hit chauwcc,
hearts. Bcth nat to rakell ofF sodeyn hastynesse,
But ay prouideth* in your stabilnesse,
That no such foly entre your corage 2204
To folwe Dido, that was queen ofF Cartage.
To slay your- With hir maneHs hath non aqueyntaunce, [p. iii;]
selves were too » -/ ' i.* ^j
great a penance! Put out ofF myndc such foltissh wilfulnessc:
May God bless >-r« i •^cr^ i i
and preserve 1 o slen yoursiltr[eJ wcF a grct penaunce! 2208
your raiity! q^j ^^ j^j^ gj.^^,g defendc you and blesse,
And preserue your variant brotilnesse,
That your trouthe falle in non outrage,
To folwe Dido, that was queen ofF Cartage! 2212
Pretend all With couett colour and sobre contenaunce,
make for stead- OfF feithful menyug ptetendith a liknesse,
doVTfoiiow Countirfetith in speche and daliaunce
Dido's example. ^|jg thyngc that sowneth unto* stedfastnesse; 2216
2188. Thou] Thi R — didst] dist J, did R 3, dost P.
2189. demened] demede R. 2193. pournesse H.
2197. to al] tal B. 2198. vertu] trewth R.
2201. to] om. H.
2203. preuideth B, J, provyd R 3, prouide P.
2206. non] nouht R. 2210. brotilnesse] Doublenesse R.
2213. The first line of the following stanza is misplaced before
2213 in H.
2216. unto] into B, R, J, P, H 5.
^ The same heading is in MS. J. leaf 47 d.
BK. ii3 Sardanapalus, last King of Assyria 263
Off prudence be gret auisenesse*
YoursilfF restreyneth, yong & old off age,
To folwe Dido, that was queen off Cartage.
Lat al your port be void off displesauwce; 2220 ^'ever be uq-
r-T' r I'll I provided with
10 gete rreendis doth your besynesse, lovers; there is
And beth neuer withoute purueiaunce : one'ldone? "*
So shal ye best encresen in richesse, —
In on alone may be no sekirnesse; 2224
To your herte beth dyuers off language,
Contraire to Dido, that was queen off Cartage.
Hold your seruauntis vnder obeisauwce, Hold a tight
Yi iiriri 1 '^"* *°" bndle
L-at nem noutner ha[uej rredam nor largesse, 2228 them with hu-
But vnder daunger doon ther obseruaunce. when'^'the" ser-
Dauwtith ther pride, them bridlyng with lownesse, nan^Vs^s"
And whan the serpent off newfangilnesse ^mk^tlmm
Assailith you, doth your auauntage, — , 2232 ^3°'J^° ^f
Contraire to Dido, that was queen off Cartage. Carthage.
[How vicious Sardanapalle kyng of Assirie brent
himsilff and his tresour.] ^
OFF Assirie to rekne kynges alle Sardanapaius,
Which hadde that lond vnder subieccioun, As^ria, came
Last off echon was Sardanapalle, 2236 aTuSy^ainer
Most femynyne off condicioun, ^° ^«^*-
Wherfore Fortune hath hym throwe doun:
And compleynyng, most ougli off maneere,
Next afftir Dido to Bochas dede appeere. 2240
To vicious lust his liff he dede enclyne; He was vicious
Mong Assiriens, whan he his regne gan, L effemSa^te
Off fals vsage he was so femynyne, amonfe'^omen
That among women vppon the rokke he span, 2244 tTe'^pfe'ince of
In ther habite disguisid from a man. *^ ™^°-
And off froward flesshli insolence.
Off alle men he fledde the presence.
First this kyng ches to been his guide 2248 His guide was
Moodir off vices, callid idilnesse, mor/ofv'ices.
Which off custum ech vertu set aside whVhe M-
2217. auesinesse B. 2221. gete] get yow R.
2225. hertis R. 2227. Holdith R. 2232. doth] do H.
2234. rekne] regne R. 2242. Amonge R — beganne R.
2250. ech] his R — set] settith H, R 3.
1 MS. J. leaf 48 recto.
264 Sardanapalus ; his vicious Life \_&K. 11
In ech acourt wher she is maistresse.
Off sorwe & myscheeff the firste fouwderesse,
Which causid onli this Sardanapall,
That to al goodnesse his wittis dede appall.
He fond up first ryot and drunk[e]nesse,
Callid a fadir off lust and lecherie;
Hatful off herte he was to sobirnesse,
Cherishyng surfetis, wach and glotonye,
Callid in his tyme a prynce off baudrie,
Fond rere soperis* and father beddis soffte,
Drynke late, and chaunge his wynes offte.
The air off metis and off baudi cookis,
Which off custum aid ay roste and seede,
Sauour off spetis, ladlis & flesshhookis
He loued vveel, and took off hem gret heede.
And folk that drank[e] mor than it was neede,
Smellyng off wyn for ther gret excesse,
With hem tabide was hooli his gladnesse.
He thouhte also that it dede hym good
To haue aboute hym, ageyn* skele and riht,
Boistous bocheris, al bespreynt with blood.
And watry fissheris abood euer in his siht,
Ther kootis poudrid with scales siluer-briht:
Dempte ther odour, duryng al his liff.
Was to his corage best preseruatiff.
and nothing pot ther nas herbc, spice, gras ne roote
pleasant to him To hym SO lusti, as was the bordelhous,
hou^se and^ust- Nor gatdeyn non so holsum nor so soote
mouthed people, To his plcsauwce nor so delicious,
flauer°him. -^s the ptescnce off folkis lecherous;
And euer glad to speke off ribaudie.
And folk cherisshe that koude flatre & lie.
jFinaiiy God Til at the laste God off veray riht
became dis- t-vi'i -ii* ^• •
pleased with hisDisplesid was With his condiciouws, 2284
scandalous be- r» i • -i ^
haviour, because he was m euery manys siht
2252. firste] chefF H, om. R 3. 2254. That] om. H, R 3.
2260. reresoperis B, reresopirs R, reresopers J, rersuppers R 3,
reresowpers P.
2263. alday] ech day H.
2264. spitis ladil & Fleishokes R. 2265. gret] goode R.
2267. ther] the H. 2269. R omits lines 2269-4102.
2270. ageyn] with B, J.
2276. herbe] eke H — ne] nor H. 2277. as] a H.
He invented
drunkenness
and riot and
feather beds,
and was a
libertine and
glutton.
He loved the
odour of food
and of dirty
cooks, of spits,
ladles, and
meat hooks,
and kept com-
pany with
drunken folk.
He liked to
have butchers
and fishermen
about him,
their coats
powdered with
silver-bright
scales,
2252
2256
2260
2264
2268
2272
2276
2280
BK. Il]
The End of Sardanapalus
265
So femynyne in his affecciouns,
And hooli gaff his inclynaciouns
Duryng his liff to eueri vicious thyng,
Terrible to heere, a[nd] namli off a kyng.
But, as Bochas list to putte in mynde, [p.
Whan Arbachus, a prynce off gret renoun,
Sauh off this kyng the flesshli lustis blynde,
Made with the peeple off that regeoun
Ageyn[e]s hym a coniuracioun,
And to hym sente, for his mysgouemaunce,
Off hih disdeyn a ful pleyn diflSaunce.
Bad hym be war, & proudli to hym tolde,
That he hym caste his vicious liff tassaile,
And in al haste, also, that he wolde
Withynne a feeld[e] meete hym in bataile.
Wheroff astonyd, his herte gan to faile,
Wher among women he sat & made gaudes,
No wiht aboute but flatereres and baudes.
And vp he ros, & gan hymsilff auaunce,
No stuff aboute hym but sergauntis riotous;
Took the feeld withoute gouemaunce,
No men off armys but folkis* vicious,
Whos aduersarie,* callid Arbachus,
Made hym proudli the feeld to forsake.
That lik a coward his castell he hath take.
And for his herte frowardli gan faile,
Nat* lik a knyht, but lik a losengour.
His riche perre, his roial apparaile.
His gold, his ieweles, vesseles & tresour
Was brouht afom hym doun [out] off a tour,
Mid off his paleis, & gaff his men in charge
Off cole and fagot to make a fir ful large.
In which he caste his tresour and ieweles,
Mor bestial than lik a manli man;
And myd his riche stonys and vesseles.
Into the fir furiousli he ran.
This tryumphe Sardanapallus wan.
With fir consumyd for his fynal meede,
Brent al to asshes among the coles rede.
2303. aboute] about hvm H. 2305. sargeauntifj H.
2307. folkis] off folkis B, J, H, P, R 3, H 5.
2308. aduersaire B.
2312. Nat] I nat B, H 5. 2315. out] om. J, H, H 5, P.
2288
1 1 61 ^^'^i ** Bochas
says, Arbaces,
who saw his
blind sensuality,
2292 conspired
against him.
2296
bidding him
beware and
challenging him
to battle.
2300
2304 Sardanapalus,
surrounded by
women and
flatterers, lost
heart, but
made a show of
resistance and
then, like a
coward, fled
to his castle.
2308
where he bade
all his jewels
2312 and gold and
royal garment*
be brought
to him, and.
2316
having a large
fire kindled, _
cast everything
into it, and
2320 running
furiously into
the flames, was
himself burnt
to ashes.
2324
266 Bochas commends Industry (^bk. ii
Before his death Tofom his deth[e] bad men sholde write
epitaph: "My VpoH his grauc, the book doth certefie,
idleness and ttt- i i i i • r ^•
vicious life With lettres large, this resouw tor tendite:
brought me to <.jyjj ^^^^jj jj^^ ^^ froward glotciiye, 2328
Myn idilnesse, myn hatful lecherye,
Han causid me, with many fals desir.
My laste daies to be consumpt with fir."
From this, This epitaiFe on his graue he sette, 2332
rrmces, you rj^ . i , • i i * i
may see that 1 o shewe how he was in al his lyue
vengeance al- r* • i i 11
ways follows Dcsi euet to hyndren and to iette
vices.
Al maner vertu, & therageyn to stryue.
Who folweth his tras is neuer lik to thryue, 2336
For which, ye Pryncis, seeth for your auail,
Vengaunce ay folweth vices at the tail.
f A comendacion of Bochas of vertuous besines
rehersing names fondours of diuers sciencis &
cunnjmgis in reprefe of Idilnes.^
There were ^TT^HER wet eck Other, hat list falsli prouide
others also who ■
T
delighted to live A Fals flesshli lustis & dissoluciouws, 2340
fashionr Riot, outrage, froward disdeyn & pride.
Vices tenhauwce in ther afFecciouws
With many onlefful croked condiciouws,
Resoun auoidyng, as I reherse shall, 2344
ThemsilfF delityng for to be bestiall.
for people may Tweyne mancr folkis to putte in remewbraunce,
be divided into ^^~. . , i ^•^r
two kinds: the (JiT vicc and vertu, and sette a dmerence:
th""vicious'! and The goodc alway han set ther plesaunce 2348
of both"is"u'ch In vertuous labour to doon ther deligence;
as they deserve, ^j^j yicious pecple in slouthe & necligcnce.
And the report off bothen is reserued.
With laude or lak, as thei han disserued. 2352
One must Men muste off riht the vertuous preferre,
industrious and And ttculi prcisc labour and besynesse;
idie'^'so f will And ageynward, dispreisen folk that erre,
someWrtuots Which ha[ue] no ioie but in idilnesse. 2356
pa'rVthem'^°with "^"^ ^° compare bamaner off witnesse,
Sardanapaius. Vcttuous folk I will to myndc Call
In rebukyng off kyng Sardanapall.
2330. Han] have H. 2332. Epitaphye H, Epitaphie P.
2335. ther ageyn to] therageyns H.
2352. have H. 2353. preferre] presi?rve H.
^ The same heading is in MS. J. leaf 48 verso.
BK. Il]
Bochas in Commendation of Industry
267
The olde wise, callid Pictagoras,
Be soun off hameris, auctours certefie,
Exaumple took[e], and cheefF maister was
That fond out first musik and melodie.
Yit off Tubal sumwe bookis specefie,
That he be strok of smethis where thei stood,
Fond first out musik tofor Noes flood.
And losephus remembreth be scripture, [p.
That this Tubal koude forge weel,
First ymagyned makyng oflF armure
With instrumentis off iren and off steel,
And ther temprures he fond out euerideel.
Lucyus Tarquyn, in stori as I fynde, 2372
Fond cheynes first, folk to fetryn & bynde.
The childre off Seth, in story ye mai see,
Flouryng in vertu be long successiouns.
For to profite to ther posterite, 2376
Fond first the craflFt off heuenli mociouns,
OfFsondri sterris the reuoluciouns;
Bequath ther cunnyng, off^ gret auauntage,
To them that afftir cam off^ ther lynage. 2380
For ther vertu God galF hem gret cunwyng,
Touchyng natures bothe oflF" erthe & heuene,
And it remembrid sothli be writyng.
To lasten ay for water or for leuene.
Generaciouns ther wer off hem seuene.
Which for vertu, withoute werre or striff,
Trauailed in cunnyng duryng al ther liff.
And for that Adam dede prophesie,
Twies the world destroied sholde be.
With water onys stonde in iupartie.
Next with fir, which no man myht[e] fle:
But Sethis childre, as thei* dede see.
Made too peleris wher men myhte graue.
Fro fir & watir the carectis for to saue.
The ton was maad off tilis hard ibake.
Fro touch off fir to saue the scripture; 2396
Off hard marbil thei dede a-nother make,
Ageyn[es] water strongli to endure,
2371. temprures] thempruriTS H. 2373. fettre H.
2379. oflGsoH, forH s.orP. 2383. it] it is H.
2392. asthei]althisB, J, P, R 3. 2393. graue] save H.
2360 Pythagoras or
Tubal invented
music from the
rhjthm of beat-
ing hammer*.
2364
117] Tubal first in-
vented forged
2368 armour and
Lucius Tarquin
chains.
The children of
Seth were the
first astrono-
mers,
seven genera-
tions of them,
who laboured in
peace all their
lives.
2384
3388 ^^^ they made
two pillars, one
of tiles, the
other of hard
marble, upon
which letters
were engraved
2 3fi2 ^° ^^^'^ ^^^^
•Sy from destruction
by water and
fire.
268
Bochas in Commendation of Industry
[bk. II
They thought
that their
knowledge
would be in
vain were it
not passed on
to other men.
To saue ofFletris the preent & the figure:
For ther cunwyng afForn gan so prouide,
Geyn fir & watlr perpetueli tabide.
Thei dempte ther cunwyng hadde be in veyn.
But folk with them hadde be partable;
And for ther labour sholde afftirward be seyn,
Thei it remewbrid be writyng ful notable:
Onto-fpr God a thyng ful comendable,
To them that folwe, be scripture or writyng
Or that men deie departe ther cunwyng.
In old times Yov be old tyme folk dyuers crafFtis fouwde
various crafts ^ , . . «
were found for In sundti wise tor ocupacioun;
Llnt°of°v'irtue Vcrtu to cherisshc, vices to confouwde,
ance^of idieitss Thet witt thei sette & ther entencioun
To putte ther labour in execucioun,
And to outrage, this is veray trouthe,
Fro manys lifF necligence & slouthe.
Enoch invented Qldc Ennok, ful famous off vertu,
the Hebrew _v i r ^ r rr • i
Duryng that age tond first orr euerichon
Thoruh his prudence lettres off Hebreu;
And in a piler thei wer kept off ston,
Til that the flood off Noe was agon.
And afitir hym, Cam was the secounde
Bi whom off Hebreu lettres wer first fouwde.
and so did And CatacHsmus the firste was that fond
Catacrismus. ■, , rr i i
But the letters Letttcs also, as oiT that language.
God's^haJd and But Ictttes wreten with Godis owne bond
w«?d'fferlnr Moyscs fitst took, most briht off his visage,
Vpon Syna as he heeld his passage,
Which off carectis & namys in sentence
From other writyng hadde a difference.
Eek afftirward, as other bookis tell,
And Seyn[t] lerom rehersith in his stile,
Vnder thempire off Zorobabell,
Esdras off Hebreu gan lettres first compile;
And Abraham, gon sithen* a gret while,
The firste was, in bookis men may see,
That fond lettres off Cire & off Caldee.
alphabet, and
after Noah's
Flood, Cam
invented
it again,
Afterwards
Ezra became
the fourth dis-
coverer of He-
brew letters,
and Abraham
invented those
of Syria and
Chaldaea.
2400
2404
2408
2413
2416
2420
2424
2428
2432
2436
2399. 2nd the] om. H. 2413. in] & H. 2415. Fro] For J.
2421. Caame H, Cam J, R 3, P. 2431. seyn J.
2433. first] om. H, R 3.
2434. gon] gan J — gon sithen] gan sithe B.
BK. Il]
Bochas in Commendation of Industry
269
Ysis in Egipt fond dyuersite
Off sundri lettres, parted into tweyne:
First for preestis, and for the comounte
Vulgar lettres he dede also ordeyne.
And Fenyces dede ther besy peyne
Lettres off Greek to fynde in ther entent,
Which that Cadmus first into Grece sent,
Which in noumbre fulli wer seuenteene;
Whan off Troye was endid the bataile,
Pallamydes, ther language to susteene,
Put thre therto, which gretli dede auaile.
Pidagorus, for prudent gouemaile,
Fond first out Y, a figur to disceme
The liff heer short and liff that is eteme.
First Latyn lettres off our A. B. C, [p.
Carmentis fond, off ful hih prudence.
Grete Omerus, in Isidre ye may see.
Fond among Grekis crafft off eloquence.
First in Rome, be souereyn excellence.
Off rethorik Tullius fond the flours, 2456
Pie and diffence off subtil oratours.
Callicrates, a grauer most notable.
Off whiht yuor dede his besynesse.
His hand, his eye so iust wer & so stable, 2460
Off an ampte to graue* out the liknesse,
Vpon the ground as Nature doth hym dresse.
This crafft he fond, as Sardanapall
Fond idilnesse mooder to vices all. 2464
Off a screueyn Bochas maketh mencioun,
How in a scrowe off litil quantite
Wrot off al Troie the destruccioun,
Folwyng Omerus be gret subtilite: 2468
Which among Grekis is had in gret deynte.
Because he was founde in his writyng.
So compendious the story rehersyng.
Isis made a two-
fold alphabet
in Egypt, and
the Phoenicians
discovered
Greek letters
2440 numbering
seventeen, which
Cadmus sent to
Greece.
2444
2448
118] Latin letters
were invented
2452 by Carmentis,
Greek elo-
quence by
Homer, Roman
oratory by
Tuily.
Callicrates
carved a life-
sized ant out
of ivory.
and Bochas
mentions a
scrivener who
wrote the entire
Iliad on a little
scroll.
2438. sundri] sondris H.
2440. also did H.
2450. 2nd liiF] te liff H, ^t life R 3, the life P.
2453. ysodre H.
2457. off] & H.
2461. grauen B.
270 Bochas in Commendation of Industry []bk. ii
Mirmecides Mirmecldcs* made a char also 2472
made a chariot t ■> ii- -iii 'i
and a ship so And 2L smal shipp, with al the apparaile,
b?e^ might cover So that a bee myhte close hem bothe too
hb'^ings^ ^'^^ Vnder his weengis, which is a'gret meruaile —
And nothyng seyn off al the hool entailer 2476
This crafFt he fond off vertuous besynesse
Teschewe the vice off froward idilnesse.
Pan, the god of Pan, god off Kynde, with his pipes seuene,
composed tunes Off recotderis fond first the melodies. 2480
Mer\:vrry on^the And Metcuric, that sit so hih in heuene,
chu^'dlscljv^red Fitst in his harpe fond sugred armonyes.
of"ifquo^rl''^"^ Holsum wynes thoruhfyned from ther lyes
Bachus fond first, of* vynes heuy lade, 2484
Licour off licours corages for to glade.
Perdix and Petdix be cuwpas fond triangle and lyne,
Euclid invented a ■, t^ ■,• -t r ri
geometry. And Luclid hrst lond geometne,
cin^ AiblTr^as'ar And Phebus fond the crafft off medicyne. 2488
Min°ervrchar- Albumasat [first] fond astronomye;
farini!*'°° '^^' ^^^ Mynerua gan charis first to guye.
lason first sailed, in story it is told.
Toward Colchos to wynne the Flees off Gold. 2492
Ceres agricuiture.Ceres the goddcsse fond first tilthe off lond;
Dionysus and t-^. . . , • • *
Beiiona warfare, Diomsms tryumphcs ttansitotie.'
Ethoius^sha^" And Bellona be force first out fond
spears. Conquest be knyhthod, & in the feeld victorie. 2496
And Martis sone, as put is in memorie,
Callid Etholus, fond speris sharp & keene,
To renne a werre in platis briht and sheene.
Aristaeus first Eck Atisteus fond out the vsage 250a
curdsTnd ^" Off mylk & cruddis, & off hony soote.
smote' firr/rom Piroidcs, for gret auauMtage,
fnvente^d^weav- Fto flyntes smet fir daryng in the roote.
'"s And Pallas, which that may to cold do boote, 2504.
Fond out weuyng, this is veray soth,
Thoruh hir prudence, off al maner cloth.
2472. Mirmecides] Marmychides B, Mirmychides H, Mir*
michiades R 3, Myrnychydes H 5, Mirmecides P.
2473. al the apparaile] a trapparaile H. 2474. a bee] A B H.
2475. a] om. H. 2480. the] om. H, R 3. 2481. sittith H.
2484. of] on B, J, R3. 2487. gemetrye H.
2494. 96. transitoire, victoire B.
2496. be] of H — &] om. H. 2497. put is repeated in H.
2502. Purides H. 2505. weyvyng H. 2506. hir] his H.
BK. Il]
An Envoy on vicious Idleness
271
And Fido first fond out the science
Off mesours and off proporciouns,
And for marchantis dede his dehgence
To fynde ballaunces be iust dyuysiouns,
Tauoide al fraude in citees & in tou^zs
On outher* parti, pleynli to compile,
Off trewe weihte that ther wer no gile.
Compare in ordre cleerli all these thynges
Founde off old tyme be deligent trauaile,
To the plesaunce off pryncis & off kynges.
To shewe how moch[e] cunnyng may auaile,
And weie ageynward the froward aquitaile,
Contrariousli how Sardanapalle
Fond idilnesse mooder off vices alle.
Lat pryncis alle heeroff taken heed.
What auaileth vertuous besynesse.
And what damage the reuers doth in deed,
Vicious liff, slouthe and idilnesse;
And these exaumples lat hem eek inpresse
Amyd ther herte, and how Sardanapalle
Fond idilnesse mooder off vices alle.
and Fido
weights and
2%oS measures.
2512
Compare these
old inventions
with the worth-
lessness of Sar-
2516 danapalus, who
only discovered
that idleness is
the mother of
all vices.
2520
Let princes
remember the
advantage of
virtuous in-
dustry and
the damage
2524 done by idle-
ness.
[^ Lenvoy.]
NOBLE Pryncis, heer ye may weel see
As in a merowr, off ful deer euydence.
Be many exaumple mo than too or thre.
What harm folweth off slouthe & necligence,
Deepe enprentyng in your aduertence.
How gret hyndryng doth wilful frowardnesse
To your estat thoruh vicious idilnesse.
Whan resoun faileth, and sensualite [p.
Holdeth the bridel off lecherous insolence,
And sobirnesse hath lost his liberte,
And to fals lust is doon the reuerence.
And vice off vertu hath an apparence, —
Misledith pryncis off wilful reklesnesse
To gret errour off froward idilnesse.
2>28 Noble Princes,
see as in a
mirror the
harm that
comes from
sloth and
neglect.
2532
IIQ] ^hen reason
■^ fails and vice
2536 takes on an
appearance of
virtue, princes
recklessly fall
into idleness.
2540
2507. Sido H. 2508. mesur^ H.
2512. outher] nouther B. 2514. Compare] Compas H, R 3.
2516. & off] om. H.
2528. heer] om. H. 2532. empryntyng H.
272 The Story of Amaziah ^bk. ii
and adversity.
which has no Thcr mav to slouthe non other guerdoun be,
other reward _ _ -^ , . " '
than sorrow JNoF non Other condigiie recompense,
But sorwe, myscheefF and aduersite, 2544
Sodeyn vengaunce and onwar violence.
Whan ye be froward in your magnyficence
To knowe the Lord and bowe be meeknesse
Tobeie his preceptis and eschewe idilnesse. 2548
[How Amazias in luda kyng for pride and presump-
cioun was venquysshed in bataUe & aftir slayn.] ^
As Bochas sat TN his studi as Bochas sat musyng,
musing in his ■ ,,,. , , , / °' .
study, Amaziah X With many vnkouth soleyn tantasie,
and his son <-•-< i i i • i
Uzziah appeared lo hym appcrcd many a myhti kyng;
befof mighty And tofom allc cam worthi Amazie, 2552
kings; Y{[s sone also, that callid was losie.
Off Dauidis blood descendyng, as I reede,
Ech afFtir othir in luda to succeede.
and Amaziah Fitst Amazias compleyned on Fortune, 2556
began to com- ^^ , . i •
plain on For- Causyng his gteuous gret aduersites,
tune, who cast npi • ii* i •
both him and 1 he ttaitoutesse caliid m comune,
theirThrones. These kynges tweyne castyng from ther sees;
Whos ouerturnyng from ther dignites, 2560
Onwar fallyng, dreedful and terible.
Been ceriousli remembrid in the Bible.
Men may read Ther pitous eende men may ther reede & see,
about their sad __ ' i r • i i
end in the How T ortune thet tatis dede entrete. 2564
oniy'^'gilan out^ Whetfore teschcwe & fleen prolixite,
the chief facts. ^| ^gjious thyng in this processe to lete.
And in substaunce to glenen out the grete,
Off ther fallyng I purpose nat to spare 2568
Compendiousli the causes to declare.
Amaziah held This Amazias hauyng gouernauwce
the sceptre over -r-t r ^ • • i rr
Judah and grew De tul mst title Olt SUCCCSSIOUM,
prou rpj^^ sceptre off luda, with al the hool puissauwce, 2572
2542. to] no H, P. — This stanza is omitted in J.
2556. First] For H.
2565. teschewe] to shewen H, to shew R 3.
2566. Al] Off J — tedious thyng] tediouste H, tedioustee R 3,
tediousty P.
2569. causes] cause H. 2571. off] havyng H.
1 MS. J. leaf 49 verso.
BK. Il]
The Story of Amaziah
273
Ful pesibli in his possessioun,
Til that pride and fals presumpcioun
Most frowardli dede his herte enbrace,
Which al attonys made hym lose his grace. 2576
In herte he hadde a maner* veynglorie,
Because that God made hym to preuaile
In his conquest and to have* victorie,
Amalechitis to venquysshe in bataile, 2580
Eek Gabanytis, as he them dede assaile,
Purposyng[e] afftir, yifF he myhte,
With Israelitis off pride for to fyhte.
Onto kyng loas off Israel he sente,
Hym comaundyng to obeien his biddyng,
And be lik subiect, as wem in ther entente,
His predecessours in al maner thyng,
Whilom to Dauid, the noble worthi kyng.
This was his sonde to loas, plat and pleyn.
Which bi a problem thus wrot to hym ageyn:
"The ougli thistil off the valis lowe,
Proudli presumyng aboue[n] his degre,
To make his pride openli be knowe.
Sent his message to the cedre tre,
That his sone myhte weddid be
To his doubter; al-thouh in substaunce
Atwen hem too was a gret discordaunce.
But off the forest the beestis sauagyne
In ther corages hadde theroff disdeyn.
Alle off assent fersli dede enclyne 2600
The thistel leuys abrod vpon the pleyn.
That ther was nouther leff nor prikke seyn."
This was the problem, which loas be writyng
Sent in a pistil to Amazie the kyng. 2604
^ But losephus in his origynal.
The said epistil, as he doth expresse,
Seith off the vale how the pouder smal
Off pride sente to the hih cipresse, 2608
That his doubter, off excellent faimesse,
Onto his sone, pleynli to descryue,
Myhte be delyuered & hauen hir to wyue.
2577. maner] maner off B. 2579. have] han B.
2581. them dedel did them H.
2600. fersli] freshly H. 261 1. &] to H.
and vainglori-
ous because
God helped him
defeat the
Amalekites and
Edomites.
2;&il He wanted to
^^ fight Israel
and commanded
King Jehoash
to be subject
to him.
Jehoash an-
swered, "TTie
2592 ugly thistle of
the vale sent
to the cedar-
tree, saying,
'give thy
daughter to
my son in
marriage.' But
the wild beasts
of the forest
trod down the
thistle. Not a
leaf or even a
prick was left."
2596
Josephus sub-
stitutes the
puff-ball and
cypress;
274
The Story of Amaziah
[bk. II
and, according
to him, the
puff-ball was
cast abroad.
But a fell beeste, which that beside stood,
Off cruel ire and indignaciouw,
With feet disdeynyng the pouder caste abrod
Hih in the air aboute hym envirouM.
The which exaumple conceyued off resoun,
Who that attempteth to clymben hih alofFte,
With onwar chauwg his fall is ful onsofFte.
2613
2616
There is no
congruity be-
tween a thistle
and a cedar or
a cypress and
a puff-ball.
Royalty should
not be married
to persons of
low birth.
Atwen the cedre, off tre[e]s most roiall, [p. 120]
And a sharp thistil is no convenyence, 2620
Nor twen a cipresse, statli* fouwde att all,
And lothsum pouder is a gret difference:
For roial blood sholde ha[ue] non assistence
To be ioyned nor knet in mariage 2624
With such as been brouht foorth ofF low p<2rage.
The cedre is strong & myhti off substau«ce,
In his vpgrowyng riht as any lyne;
And thouh the thistil ha[ue] spottis off plesauwce, 2628
He hath eek prikkis, sharp as any spyne.
And bothe naturis, pleynli to termyne,
The cedre off kynde, who looke[th] weel aboute,
To no thistil* sholde his brauwchis loute. 2632
The cypress is Holsum ofF odout is the fait cipresse,
p"ff-baii' ""^ * As bookis telle, and vertuous off kynde;
wfth'dust anr Dust & pouder, pleynli to expresse,
gets in people's Xj-Qubieth the ait & maketh folkis blynde: 2636
For which in spousaile convenyence to fynde,
Lat estatis off ther berthe honurable,
Voide al raskail & wedde ther semblable.
The thistle, al-
though it has
some good
qualities, also
has pricks as
sharp as a
spine.
Honourable
estates should
avoid rabble.
Amaziah lost
bia temper, and
made war on
Jehoash; but
his men ran
away
But Amazias wolde nat be war
For no warnyng, nor for no prophecie.
But stille in herte gret hatrede [he] bar
Ageyn kyng loas, oflF malice & envie;
Into a* feld brouht al his cheualrie,
Gadred them out, bothe nyh and ferre,
Geyn Godis will on hym to gynwe a werre.
2621. twenl atween H — statli] estatli B, estatly J.
2623. For] Full H — sholde] shal H.
2629. He] & H.
2632. thistil] thouthistil B, H, thouhthistil J, thouthystyl H 5,
thistill R %, thistle P.
2636. air] day H.
2639. al] of H.
2642. he] om. J.
2644. a] the B. 2646. on] geyn H.
2640
2644
BK. Il]
Amaziah's Son Uzziah
275
And kyng loas, ful lik a worthi knyht,
Into the feeld[e} faste gan hym speede;
And alle the knyhtis off luda anon riht
Wer smet off vengaunce with a sodeyn dreede
To bidde hem fle, God wot, it was no neede,
And Amazias, for al his gret[e] pride,
Stood destitut and no man be his side.
With hym was non lefft off al his meyne.
So God and loas ageyn hym wrouhte.
Off Jerusalem entred the cite.
And Amazie off force with hym he brouhte;
And in the temple the tresour out he souhte,
Gold and siluer, and hooli ther richesse;
And to Samarie hom he gan hym dresse.
And Amazias he leet out off prisoun,
Afftir al this, and suffred hym go fre.
To his myscheeff and his confusioun,
He was delyuered from his captiuite;
For slayn he was in Lachis the cite.
Among his freendis be symulacioun.
His deth conspired vnder ful fals tresoun.
2648
and Jehoash
captured him
26.^2
26.^6
and took all
the treasure of
the temple to
Samaria.
2660
Afterwards he
set Amaziah
free, and
Amaziah was
soon after-
, - ward slain in
2004 Lachish.
[How god vpon losias succedyng kjmg next in luda
toke vengeaunce/ smot him wit/i lepre.^ ^
AFFTIR in luda, the myhti regioun,
Next Amazias, losias gan succeede.
Wonder manli & famous of renoun.
In alle his werkis ful prouident in deede.
And off his knyhthod venquisshid, as I reede.
The Palestynes, for al ther gret puissauwce,
With al Arabie he brouht onto vttraunce.
Bike touns and many strong cite,
And onto Egipt he his boundis sette;
Made castelis beside the Rede Se,
And in his conquest, whom that euer he mette,
Off manli pride he ne wolde lette —
I meene alle tho that were his aduersaires —
To his lordshepe to make hem tributaires.
2658. 2nd the] om. H.
2674. vttraunce] myschaunce H.
2681. his] his gret H.
* MS. J. leaf 50 recto.
2668 •■^fter Amaziah,
Uzziah suc-
ceeded, manly
and famous.
2672
He defeated the
Palestines, con-
2676 quered Arabia
and built to'xns
and castles.
2680
276
Uzziah's Obstinacy and Pride
[bk. II
He also rebuilt
Jerusalem,
strengthening
its defences,
and planted
gardens and
vineyards and
grafted trees.
He became very
much dreaded
for his bravery,
and finally
grew proud
and obstinate
to God.
So Fortune de-
cided to assail
him, especially
when he
dressed up like
a bishop out of
pure wanton-
ness and
started to
sacrifice in the
temple, which
vexed
He dede his labour also to repare
lerusalem afFtir his ruyne;
The wallis rered, which on the soil lay bare, 2684
Made newe tour[e]s, riht as any lyne,
Fanys off gold ther torettis tenlumyne,
And tafforce hem, leet werkmen vndertake
Squar bastiles & bolwerkis to make. 2688
He delited to make fressh gardynes,
Dyuers greynes & herbis for to knowe,
R<?ioisshid to plante sundri vynes,
To grifFe trees and seedis for to sowe, 2692
And strauwge frutis [to] make hem growe arowe.
And with hym hadde, his enmyes to encouwbre,
Thre huwdrid thousand manli men in nouwbre.
His noble fame gan to sprede wide, 2696
And gret[e]li drad for his hih prowesse,
Wherthoruh his herte corupt was with pride,
Because onli off his gret richesse;
And frowardli he dede his besynesse 2700
For to maligne in his estat roial
Ageyn the Lord, the which is inmortal.
To God aboue he gan wexe obstynat, [p. 121]
That be processe ful smal he dede wynne; 2704
And sauour cauhte in his roial estat
To folwe his fader in onthrift & synne,
That grace and vertu from hym dede twynne.
In most shynyng off his magnyficence, 2708
Fortune proudli assailed his excellence.
Caste she wolde withynne a litil while
His surquedie & froward pride assaile,
And ful onwarli deceyue hym and begile, 2712
To make his power tappallyn & to faile,
Whan that this kyng took on thapparaile
Off a bisshop, off veray frowardnesse,
And into temple proudli gan hym dresse, 2716
Beyng in purpos, on a solempne day,
To take his way up to the hih auter,
Falsli vsurpyng, who-euer seide nay.
2692. griffe] grifFt H, grift R 3, grafFe P — seede H.
2693. to3 om. P.
2697. hih] om. J. 2702. 2nd the] om. H.
2706. &]&inPI, R3. 2714. that] 07W. H, R 3.
BK. li]
The End of Uzziab
277
2736
To sacrefie, holdyng the censer,
Tofor the auter, that shon of gold ful cleer.
For which offence, the Bible seith the same,
Azarias the bisshop dede hym blame.
Gan withstonde hym in the face anon.
Four score preestis beyng in presence.
Off the kynrede descendid off Aaron,
Which forbad hym & made resistence.
That with his hand he sholde putte incence
Vpon the auter, ageyn[es] Godis lawe,
Hym chargyng boldli his presence to withdrawe.
But off despiht he made them holde ther pes,
In peyne off deth began hem to manace;
And sodenli among[es] al the pres.
An erthequaue fill in the same place.
And therwithal in the kynges face.
Off the Sonne ther smet a bem so briht.
That al his visage was scorkid with the liht.
He wex a lepre, ful foul and riht horible
For his ofFence, as God list ordeyne;
To euery man off look he was terible,
And but fewe his myscheefF gan compleyne.
And a gret hill the same hour karff on tweyne,
Nat ferr a-side from the toun withoute,
Cites destroieng that stood round aboute.
On kyng losie God took his vengaunce.
For al his lordshepe & his magnyficence.
To punyshe his pride & his froward puissaunce,
And brouht hym lowe for his gret offence:
For his persone was put out off presence
Perpetueli, as Hooli Writ can telle,
Fer from al peeple with lepres for to duelle.
His flessh was troubled with dyuers passiouws.
For his siknesse auoided the cite;
In cri and sorwe and lamentaciouns
His liff he ladde, in gret aduersite.
And so he deied in sorwe and pouerte,
Sympli buried, for al his grete myht,
Withynne an iland that stood ferr out of siht.
2720. sacrefie] sacrifise H, sacrifice R 3, P. 2721. shon] om. H.
2722. \ie which H. 2730. boldli] proudly H.
2732. he be gan H. 2737. visage] face P'— scorched P.
2742. the] l)at H. 2758. stood ferr] ferr^- was H.
2720
2724 Bishop Azariah
who, with hii
eighty priests
behind him,
ordered Uzziah
off the premises.
2728
But Uzziah
told them to
2732 hold their
tongues, and
suddenly there
was an earth-
quake, and the
king's face was
scorched by a
ray of the sun
and he became
a leper, and a
hill split in
two and de-
Kroyed cities.
Thus God took
his vengeance.
2740
2744
Uzziah wai
cast down from
his throne and
sent to a lazar
house; and
„ when he died
2740 he was buried
without cere-
mony in an
island.
2752
2756
278 Hoshea captured by Shalmaneser [[bk. ii
f An exortacion to Princis to be auisid to do ageyn
goddis Preceptes.^
Let princes be T AT prvncis all[e] in ther prouidence
careful not to ■ -r. -i 1 i
offend God; -M^^ Be Fiht wcel War any thyng tattame, 2760
repent they wU Which onto God sholde been offence,
suffer for it. j^j^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ conclude to ther shame.
Lat them thynke, for al ther noble fame,
But thel repente, God off his iustise 2764
Ther froward pride onwarH will chastise.
And let them Lat hcm be wat off malice to presume
not meddle • 1*11 1 rr •
with the affairs Ageyn his cherche to doon oitenciouw;
God will not ' For God off riht all tirantis will consume 2768
permit that, j^^ £^j shott tyme for ther presumpcioun.
Which wil nat suffre ther dominacioun
To interupte, for al ther grete myht.
Nor breke the fraunchise off hooli cherches ryht. 2772
Let Uzziah's To prudent pryncis, which that can discerne,
example teach ^ , y . ■ i j i * rr
prudent princes Lat kyng losias, consiared his oirence,
Jever°ence%o Been in ther mynde a merour & lanterne,
holy church, 'p^ hooH cherchc to do due reuerence; 2776
And conceyue in ther magnificence,
God will off riht, be thei neuer so stronge.
Chastise ther malice, thouh he abide longe.
[How kyng Ozie was taken bi kyng Salmanazar
and deied in prisoun.]] ^
Another king, ' I ^HER was a-uother, that callid was
called Hoshea, 1 /-^ • r l ^
was taken by X OziC, [p. I22J 2780
fnl'i^rcrp'tive Which whilom regned, as I afferme dar,
into Assyria, j^^ Israel, whom Fortune be envie
Made hym be take or that he was war,
Besegid aboute off kyng Salmanazar; 2784
And in Tassirie vnder his daunger,
The Bible tellith, he was prisoner.
His towns were His cites, touws btouht to desttucciouw,
peopi7 en slaved, And al his peeple vnder long seruage 2788
di"d of°Sf. Wer take and kept in strong[e] Babilouw,
2772. chirch H. 2783. that] om. H.
2785. vn to Assyrye H, in to Assirie J, R, 3, into Assirle P,
in Tassyrye H 5.
1 The same heading in MS. J. leaf 50 verso.
* MS. J. leaf 50 verso.
angel slew his
men
BK. ii] Sennacherib and Zedekiah 279
SufFred ther gret peyne & gret damage.
And in a presouw, be furious outrage,
This said Ozias, in cheynes bounde sore, 279a
For sorwe deide : ofF hym write I no more.
p5ow Senacheryb kyng of Assirie was slayne.] ^
WITH these forsaid woful kynges thre, ^""^^iSk
Senacherib, off Assirie kyng, upon, com-
/^ T 1 rt 1 1 * plained how he
Cam to lohn oochas, most ougli on to see, 2796 was brought to
Ful pitousli his fate compleynyng. °°"^ ^'
And speciali his onwar chauwgyng
He gan bewaile, oppressid in his thouht.
From hih noblesse how he was brouht to nouht. 2800
His renoun spradde thoruh many dyuers rewm, Kis renown
A 1 !• iir 1 1 r "'^^ gre^U and
And peeplis all[ej gan hym magnefae; he uid siege
A] 1 • 1 T 1 to Jerusalem,
Siege he laide onto lerusalem, but God's
In the tyme off kyng Sedechie. 2804
But in his most froward surquedie,
Godis aungel tofor the cite
An hundrid thousand slouh off his meyne.
And the mor to maken hym afferd, 2808 Jf'^i^fT*^!, .j.
Mid off his peeple, the silue same nyht, » terrifi^ him
Godis aungel shooff awey his herd away and wa$
With a sharp suerd that shon cleer & bryht. byTs^s^nf '°
Leffte his siege & took hym onto flyht; 2812
And in a temple, his goddis worshepyng,
His sonys slouh hym as he sat knelyng.
[How kyng Sedechie/ for fals forsweryng was slayn
and made blynde in prisoun.]] ^
TOUCHYA^G the compleynt of kyng Sedechie, Zcdekiah's nory
- , ~ , . *^ / 1 'is told in the
And oit his sorwes to shewe the maner, 2816 Bible.
Hooli Writ dooth cleerli specefie, jeLiachin and
Wherfore it were but veyn to telle hem heer. chnTrln*were
For ther men may the processe pleynli ler, ]^^^° captive
How loachym, kyng off lerusalem, 2820
His owne brother, was lad out off his rewm.
2794. With] And wit* H, R 3, H 5.
2802. peeple H, peple R 3, pepyll H 5 — peeplis all] all people
P. 2812. onto] to J)e H.
2819. men] ye H — may] om. J.
^ MS. J. leaf 50 verso. * MS. J. leaf 51 recto.
28o
The Pride of Zedekiah
[bK. II
Nebuchad- WhcFofF in hcrte he felte ful gret sor,
grieved This Scdcchias, as it is ther fouwde,
Because the kyng Nabugodonosor
His brother heeld, strong in prisouw bouwde,
Fulli in purpos the lewes to confouwde;
For this tirant hadde in that mortal strifF
His brethre, childre in prisouw, & his wiff.
But when And yit this tirant in his tirannye
nezzar restored This fauour dede in al his fell[e] rage
him to histhrone/~v i • r i o i i •
on condition Unto this mostc wotul bedechie,
of paying a
yearly tribute
to the
Babylonians,
he became
so elated
that he
forgot his
brother and
his friends,
To sufFre hym regne in his gret[e] age,
Fro yeer to yeer to paie hym a truage,
Be feith and oth and composiciouw,
Reised off his peeple & brouht to Babiloun.
Yit Sedechias in especiall,
Be a maner off fals felicite,
HymselfF reioished in his see roiall
To ocupie that noble dignite,
And so forgat the gret aduersite
Off his brother and other freendis all,
Touchyng the myscheeff that thei wer in fall,
and soon QfF pride he fill into presumpciouw,
decided that he,_,, , i-ii'i i oi*i
would not pay Whan he remembrid his brethre & his lynage,
his tribute any r^ 'iii ri ni
longer. Considred how rro kyng balamoun
He was descendid be title off heritage,
Gan disdeyne to paien his truage,
And to maligne, in herte he was so wroth.
And falsli brak his surauwce and his oth.
He thought to He hadde a maner indignaciouw,
"Solomon paid Which he cauhte off old remembraunce,
t°ibu"e was paid How tymc passid, to kyng Salamoun,
shou'id I dolt?" Be his manli prudent gouernauwce,
Kynges aboute for a recognisauwce
Paied tribut, and durst it nat withseie
Fro yeer to yeer his noblesse to obeie.
Which thyng remembrid off kyng Sedechie,
As he wex gret and strong in his puissauwce.
Off hih disdeyn his tribut gan denye.
2824
2828
2832
2836
2840
2844
2848
2852
2856
So he rebelled
against the king
of Babylon,
2828. brethre] brothir H, brother H 5, brethern P — children
P.
2830. his] this H. 2832. hym] hem H.
2838. reioysshyng H. 2844. 2nd his] om. H.
BK. Il]
Zedekiah's Faithlessness and Fall
281
Sette a-side his feith and assuraunce, 2860
So that his oth stood in no substaunce;
For he ageyn the kyng off Babiloun
Presumptuousli fill in rebellious.
And his kyngdam to strengthe & fortefie, [p. 123] 2864 f?^'^'^
Thouhte he wolde to his auauntage
The kyng off Egipt haue on his partie.
Off pride he fill into so gret outrage,
That he no mor wolde paien his truage; 2868
But fynali such weies he hath souht,
That off his oth litil he rouhte or nouht.
king of Egypt,
went back on
his promised
word.
But O alas, it is a doolful thyng
To be remembred, in hih or low degre,
That any prynce or any worthi kyng
Sholde false his oth or ontrewe be;
Or that men sholde such variaunce see
In ther corages, which been so hih[e] bom,
For any cause falsli to be forsworn.
Be report it doth ther fame trouble,
Infortuneth and clipseth ther noblesse.
Whan a prynce is ofl^ his heste double,
And chargith nat, ofl"^ wilful reclesnesse,
Al-be his promys conclude on doubilnesse.
Thouh God a while suffre hem and respite.
At onset hour ther falsnesse he will quite.
His wamyng ofFte he sent to them afFor,
Because thei lacke prudent policie.
Record I take off Nabugodonosor,
Which cam onwarli on kyng Sedechie,
For he his tribut gan falsli hym denye;
With al his power, as he dede abraide,
To Jerusalem a myhti siege he laide.
Thei withynne constreyned were off neede.
The kyng hymsilfF, ther was no bett difFence,
With manys flessh his peeple for to feede,
Whil the Caldeies be myhti violence,
Off verai force, withoute resistence,
On fals forsweryng for to taken wrake,
Ther myhti tour[e]s and ther wallis brake.
which is
a shameful thing
2872 for any prince
or king to do.
2876
It injure* their
good name and
eclipses their
noblesse, and
2880 God is sure to
punish them
for it.
2884
2888
The result was,
that Nebu-
chadnezzar
suddenly de-
scended
on Zedekiah,
2892 '*i<^ siege to Je-
rusalem, starved
the Jews into
eating one
another, de-
stroyed the city
and killed most
2896 °^ ^^^ people-
2879. Infortunatith R 3 — eclipsith H, R 3.
2888. on] vpon H. 2894. peeplis H.
282 The End of Zedekiah [bk. II
Zedekiah was To slcii and killc thei list non for to spare,
put in chains, __^, , . . , .,
his children slain, Whom-euer thci mette or cam in ther siht; 2900
handeTover to Scdcchias IcfFtc the toun al bare,
hireyfs"ent°out. But take hc was, as he hym took to fliht,
In cheynys bouwde and fetrld anon riht,
In whose presence, tencrece his peynes anon, 2904
His yonge childre were slay[e]n euerichon.
His wyues all, most woful ofF ther cheres,
Which in ther tyme most goodli were and fair,
Delyuered wern in handis ofFstrauwgeres; 2908
And mor, alas, to putte hym in dispair.
Into his kyngdam neuer to ha[ue] repair.
With sharp[e] tonges, it was to gret a peyne.
Out off his hed wer rent his eien tweyne. 2912
His city Off lerusalem his cite was ibrent
Jerusalem was _., ^ . , . i i j
burnt to the rleyn to* the ground mto assnes dede.
treasure sent to His gret richesse, his tresour hooli sent
|ed''m"se?rbiy ' To Babilouw, with stonys bleu and rede; 2916
in prison. Vcsselis ofF gold, which richest wer in deede,
Withoute merci or remissiouw,
Caldeies took to ther possessiouw.
That is what And thus in sotwe and in wrechidnesse 2920
perjury leads to. tt i • i i r i •
He deied, alas, tetred m prisoun.
Loo, heer the eende off periurie & falsnesse!
Loo, how Fortune can turnen vp-so-dou«
Off mortal men the condicioun: 2924
Now richest shynyng in* prosperite.
With onwar chauwg to hatful pouerte.
What do royal Now men Icfft up to roial dignites,
people who are Now hih aloffte be fulsum habundauwce: 2928
themT""^^ '° But what auaileth to sitte in roial sees
To folk that han therin non assurauwce,
Namli whan Fortune holdeth the balaunce.
Which ay off custum onto hih estatis 2932
Hath a fals ioie to shewen hir chekmatis.
Record I take off pryncis mo than on,
uStaiT became Ther woful fatis hanging in iupartie,
dieTIn ^fs^^'.^'^Remembrid late, and among echon 2936
2904. peyn H.
2913. ibrent] brent J.
2914. to] into B, J, H, P, H 5 — the] om. H 5.
2925. in]inhih B, J, in hygh H S- 2930. have H.
2935. hangyng] havyng H.
BK. ii] King Astyages and bis Grandson Cyrus
The woful fal off kyng Amazie,
His sone eek lepre, which callid was losie,
And last off all[e], how in Babiloun,
Kyng Sedechias deied in prisoun. 2940
283
^ Lenvoye.
NOBLE Pryncis, considreth the fallas
Off Fortunys froward flat[e]rie;
Seeth hir deceites in many dyu^rs cas,
How she first mokkid manh Amazie, 2944
Which slay[e]n was for his surquedie
To yeue you wamyng, bexaumple as ye may reede,
Whan ye sit hiest, your fal is most to dreede.
And as it is remembred* in Bochas, [p. 124]
Eek in the Bible off the kyng losie,
In his tyme how famous that he was
Bothe off richesse and off cheualrie,
Punshed with lepre, bookis specefie.
For his presumyng: remembrith this in deede,
Whan ye sit hiest, yowr fal is most to dreede.
Al worldli glorie* fleeth hens a gret[e] pas,
I take witnesse off kyng Sedechie;
For fals forsweryng he slay[e]n was, alas!
Maad blynd in prisoun; this story cannat lie.
Thus sheweth Fortune, thoruh hir froward envie.
To you, Pryncis, yif ye list taken heede, 2960
Whan ye sit hiest, your fal is most to dreede.
[How kyng Astriages labored to disherite Cirus/ but
god suffrid his malice not to preuaile.J ^
A FFTIR these kynges, on folwed in the pres,
-^^ And gan to Bochaj- his cowpleynt discure;
And he was callid the grete Astriages,
Which tolde in ordre his vnkouth auenture,
Lord off Asie, as bookis us assure.
And hadde off tresour duryng al his liff
A-boue alle kyuges a prerogatiff. 2968
2948. is remembred] remembreth B, remembrith J, H 5.
2949. 2nd the] om H. 2955. gloire B. 2958. this] his H.
2963. to discure H. 2964. Astiages P.
^ MS. J. leaf 51 verso.
Noble Princes,
when you sit
highest, then it
your fall most to
be dreaded.
2048 Remember how
Uzziah was pun-
ished for his
presumption.
2952
and how King
Zedekiah was
2956 slain for
forswearing.
After these
kings followed
Astyages, the
richest mince of
2904 his tim?
284 '^he Dream of Astyages [bk. ii
He lacked Most foFtunat in al his gouernaile,
nothing but a „ , ~, „ ,
male heir, T Cite oiT T OFtunc non aducrsite,
SaufF an heir male, nothyng dede hym faile;
For he most glorious sat in his roial see: 2972
Off worldli welthe he lakked no plente,
Except onli, as clerkis off hym write,
He hadde no sone his kyngdam tenherite,
and once dreamt Which to his welthe was gtct disencres, 2976
of a vine that ^ • r •! i • i • i
grew, and a Lest succcssiouw tailed m his lyne.
cie'a?'^slX!' A douhter had he callid Mundanes,
daughter^' '"^'^"^ ofF whos wombe, as bookis determyne,
womb^b^'th ^^ drempte a-nyht[e] how he sauh a vyne 2980
spreading over Jn his auesiouw, with hym so it stood,
Ouer al Asie his braunchis spredde abrod.
He hadde also a reuelaciouw,
Slepyng a-nyht[e] afFtir his souper, 2984
Thouh he nat knew thexposicioun,
He thouhte he sauh a cristallyn ryuer.
With lusti watris, as any berell cleer,
Out off hir wombe, with his stremys fressh 2988
The soil of Asie make tendre and nessh.
and could not Touchyng this reucr and this lusty vyne
understand what ,._ , -^ °, , . , .
it meant, 1 o hym shcwed in his auisiouw,
Withynwe hymsilfF he coud[e] nat termyne, 2992
TherofF to fynde no cleer conclusioun
Withoute sum maner exposiciouw
To hym declared be folkis in sentence.
Which ofF such dremys hadde experience. 2996
until his To hym he callid his astronomeris,
philosophers and __. i .i- i i i • i
diviners His philisophres and his dyuynours.
That knew the meuyng ofF the nyne speeris,
Ymages ofF sterris, ther houses & ther tours; 3000
And such as wern expert expositours.
And whan thei wern assemblid euerichon,
Touchyng his drem thei corded all in on.
told him that his To telle hym trouthe thei wer nat rec[e]les, — 3004
havl rwn,°by Saide his douhter, fro whom ther cam a vyne,
he°wlw beput She that be name was callid Mundanes,
dom°^ ThUwa. Sholde haue a sone descendyng from his lyne,
to be his fate. Whos noble fame thoruh Asia sholde shyne, 3008
Which sholde [hym] putte, thoruh his hih renoun,
Be* force ofF armys out ofF his regioun.
3009. hym] om. J — hym putte] pull hym H.
31 10. Be] Hym be B, j — armys] hys armes P.
BK. ii] Astyages marries bis Daughter to Cambyses 285
This was his fate; he myhte it nat refuse, whereupon he
The heuenli cours but it dede faile. 3012 woiSd t^y^o
Wherupon he sore gan to muse, *^°"^ "'
Such fantasies dede his herte assaile;
Fill in gret doubte off ther dyuynaile,
Thouhte he wolde make purueiaunce 3016
For to withstonde Godis ordenaunce.
Ful hard it is to make resistence although men
Geyn thyng ordeyned, whan God will that it be; Slye^^hT*
And namli ther, wher as influence 3020 '^'^^'^^•
Off heuene aboue hath shape a destyne:
Sum men recorde that no man may it fle.
The doom off this, wher that it holde or flitte,
Tastronomeris al hooli I committe. 3024
This said[e] kyng, off whom I spak but late, So the kin«
Caste he wolde, for his auauntage, to ^\\%
The ordenaunce reuersen and the fate s^mf^r.V
Off the heuene, with al the surplusage, 3028 S?*""'''^
And yeue his doubter as in mariage
To sum onworthi poore infortunat
That neuer were likli to rise to hih estat.
And in this wise, kyng AstriageS [p. 125] 3032 and married her
Maried his doubter, as in his entent, n°amed a°rS'^
To on onworthi callid Cambises, ttTght n^uity
Deemyng therbi, be short auysement, ^d notV°°^
Withynne hymselff that he was riht prudent, 3036 gr"iateut
Wenyng that noblesse cam be discent off blood, such men as
And nat be grace, nor as the heuene stood. posJ^ ^°
moral virtue.
In his resoun was nat comprehendid.
How Socrates, maistir off Platoun, 3040
Off ful low bed bi berthe was descendid.
And nat tenherite kyngdam nor regioun,
■But for to haue fulli possessioun
Off moral vertu and philosophic, 3044
Duryng his liff his witt he dede applie.
He souhte contrees for wisdam and science, discovered that
And secre cunnynges to serch[e] dede his peyne; imm^,^r"
And he fond out thoruh his deligence, 3048
3012. faile] falle H.
3022. men] om. H. 3025. saide] same H.
3031. likli] like H. 3041. bi berthe] om. H.
286
Royalty depends on the Grace of God [^bk. ii
This philisophre, as bookis acerteyne,
To ioie reserued outher onto peyne,
Be grace off God, which is eternall,
How menys soulis be fouwde ay inmortall. 3052
and was judged The gFcte Appollo, ill bookis it is founde,
by Apollo to be --, ~,T ~, . i m
the wisest GaiT lugemeiit oft equite and riht,
hUtime!*""^ That Socrates in vertu most habouwde.
And most preferrid in eueri manys siht, 3056
Was callid ofFwisdam the lanterne & the liht,
And wisest named, at evyn and at pryme,
Off phiHsophres that wer in his tyme.
and Euripides, The poete also calHd Euripides, 3060
most honourable Most honoutable calHd in that age,
mo\her^was'^ Al-be his mooder ofF lifF was rec[e]les
wrote ma*n°/ And contagious thoruh vicious outrage:
tort" tmh Yit was this poete, for al his vil lynage, 3064
to all. Mosl vertuous fouwden at assaies,
OfF alle poetis that wer in his daies.
Callid in his tyme a gret tragician.
Because he wrot many tragedies, 3068
And wolde ofF trouthe spare no maner man,
But hem rebuken in his poetries,
Touchyng the vices ofF flesshli fantasies,
Compleyne in pryncis ther deedis most horible, 3072
And ech thyng punshe that was to God odible.
Demosthenes, A-nother clerk callid Demostenes,
greatest of _,, ,.,,..
rhetoricians, 1 fie moste subtil retfioncian,
man, yet he^'i^s And most inuentifF among al the pres, 3076
That euer was sithe[n] the world began,
Al-be ofF berthe he was a poore man,
Yit hadde he most souereyn excellence
Mong philisophres ofF speche & eloquence. 3080
So it would seem Be which exauwplc, me semeth dout[e]les,
that royal blood _,, • i i i j i i M l
and high lineage 1 fiat roial blood, uoutfier fiih lynage
are of but small rr> i i .11^ 1
advantage with- 1 o meuMys berthe yeueth but smal encres,
gn the grace of ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ jj^jj ^uaUWtage I 3084
For hih noblesse taketh nat his corage
OIF riche nor poore, nor statis souereyne.
But ofF his grace, as God list to ordeyne.
3056. euerij any H.
3073. punysh H, punnysch R 3, punysshed H 5, punishe P.
3074. Domestenes J. 3082. nouther] nor J, P.
the most
eloquent.
BK. Il]
The Childhood of Cyrus
287
Wherfore, ofF foli kyng Astriages,
Contrariousli ageyn al gent[e]rie,
Bad that his douhter callid Mundanes,
First whan folk with childe hir dede espie,
For tacomplishe his froward fantasie,
Whan it wer born, chargyng aboue all thyng,
Off Archanye to bem it to the kyng.
Which in that tyme was callid Arpagus;
And, as I fynde, he dede in vertu floure.
And pite* hadde, the story tellith thus.
That beestis sholde the litil child deuoure.
But God that may in myscheeff best socoure,
To keepe the child was nat rek[e]les,
Ageyn the malice off kyng Astriages,
Which hadde comaundid off malice & hatreede,
How that this child, greene & tendre off age,
Bi Arpagus sholde be cast in deede
To be deuoured off beestis most sauage.
But for he dradde to doon so gret outrage.
To his shepperde, hymselff to stonde at large,
The child to slen he fulli gaff the charge.
3088 Astyages was
^ foolish and not
a gentleman, for
he commanded
Mandane's new-
bom child to be
taken to Har-
pagus to be cart
3092 out to wild
beasts.
3096
3100
But Harpagus
was afraid to
put the child to
death and told
3104 his shepherd to
do it.
3108
[How yong Cirus was in to the Forest/ cast with
bestys to be devoured.^ ^
THIS heerdeman, albe that he was loth
To execute this woful auenture,
Inta forest foorth with the child he goth,
And gaff to beestis that litil creature;
Whom to fostre, be grace ageyn nature,
A wilde bichche hir whelpis ther forsook.
And to hir pappis the litil child she took.
And with hir mylk she made hym suppe &
dyne, [p. 126]
And bisi was fro* hym to enchace
Wilde foulis and beestis sauagyne,
3091, did hir H.
3094, Hircanye P. 3095. Harpagus P.
3097. pite] spiht B, J, spyte P.
3102. hadde] om. H. 3108. 2nd the] in H.
3111. Inta] In to a H, J, R 3, H 5, P.
3117. fro] for B, H, H 5. 3118. bestis & foulis H.
* MS. J. leaf 52 recto, in margin.
The shepherd,
although un-
willing, took the
child into a
forest, where it
was suckled by
31 12 a wild bitch.
Behold how God
can preserve in-
3 1 16 nocents from
injury!
288 Cyrus preserved by a Wild Bitch [bk. ii
That non ne durste neihhen to that place.
Loo, how that God disposer! can his grace, 3120
Innocentis fro myscheefF to preserue
Geyn fals envie, which wolde make hem sterue!
JnnaS^iTcf' O blood onkyndc, founden in kynreede,
murdlr^f child" ^^^ couetisc, O blood disnaturall 3124
°n^^hom^even Off falg malice, O blood ful off hatreede! —
pity! To moordre a child born off the stok roiall!
Wher manys resoun is turned bestiall,
Falsli transfourmed onto cruelte, 3128
To slen a child wher beestis han pite!
EdsmTn'^oid The celi heerde hath told his wifFthe cas;
the "^hud^^nd ^"^ ^^ ^"*^" °ff P^*^ ^^^^ arise,
she went' with With hir husbonde wente a ful eret pas 313a
him to the forest _ ip iiii ii-
to see it, and Into the totest, beholdyng al the guise,
amis' '° " As heer-tofor[e]n ye han herd deuyse,
Seyng the child, with lippis tendre & sofFte,
The bichchis pappis how he sok ful offte. 3136
The said[e] heerde callid Sparagos,
His wifF also, off whom toforn I tolde.
This yonge child took in ther depos;
And in hir armys she sofFtli gan it folde. 3140
And he ful goodli hir face gan beholde,
And on his maner in the same while,
In childli wise on hir gan to smyle.
and fed it. The childcs lauhtre whan she dede aduerte, 3144
wild bitch stood With al hir hool[e] feithful dilligence
angn y at ay gj^^ ^^^ ^^ chcrishe it, and with al hir herte
She gafF it souk, with ful gret reuerence,
Albe the bichche made resistence, 3148
Compleynyng stood felli at abay,
The litil child whan she sauh lad away.
and howled Ful pitousH she gan to houle and crie,
when she earned .J ■, iirii i
it home with her. At ther dcpartyng dooltully compieyne, 3152
And afFtir them ful faste gan to hie,
The child to lete she felte so gret a peyne.
Loo, how that God oiF merci can ordeyne
A cruel beeste such sorwe for to make, 3156
And so to mourne for a childes sake!
3137. Spargos P. 3153- to3 she H.
BK. Il]
Gyms' Life is preserved
289
But eueri thyng that God will ha[ue] preserued,
Ne may nat faile to stonde in sekimesse.
His secre doomys been to hymsilfF reserued;
Ther can no man expowne hem, as I gesse.
For he shoop first that this shepperdesse,
Off Sparagos the trewe poore wiff,
For to be mene to saue the childes liff.
Horn to hir hous the child she ladde anon,
And it to fostre dede hir besynesse:
Off othir salari, God wot, knew she non,
Sauff that hir herte therto dede hir dresse.
And mor enterli, the story berth witnesse.
She tendrid hym, and with mor besi cure,
Than hym that was hir child bom off nature.
And as the story pleynli doth expresse,
This yonge child, as he wex in age.
Fro day to day encreced in noblesse,
Lik for to been riht manli off corage.
Cirus callid he was in that language,
To seyne in Latyn pleynli in substaunce,
A man ibom to gret enheritaunce.
And whan the renoun off his excellence
Bi long processe, and off his gret encres
Cam be report onto the audience
Off his aiel, the grete Astriages,
And how the kyng was founde rech[e]Ies,
Callid Arpagus, for to do vengauwce
On yonge Cirus, he fill in displesaunce.
This is to meene Astriages was wroth,
That Arpagus was founde merciable
Cirus to saue, and for that he was loth
Ageyn[e]s al riht for to be vengable
To slen a child, a thyng nat comendable, —
Demyng off trouthe in his conscience,
God was nat paied, to moordre innocence.
Astriages caste hym to be wreke
On Arpagus be fals collusioun.
Because that he his biddyng dede breke,
And was contraire to his entencioun
Cirus to slen, ageyn[es] al resoun.
And for that cause Astriages, I reede,
Off Arpagus leet slen the child in deede.
What God
wishes preserved
is safe. God
saw to ii that
3160 the shepherdess
rescued the
child out of the
goodness of
her heart.
3164
She cared for
him better than
if he had been
her own.
3168
^172 Th*y named
him Cyrus,
which means in
Latin a man
bom to great
inheritance.
3176
When Astyages
heard of all
3180 this, he was
• furious with
Harpagus
3184
because he did
not kill Cyrus;
3188
3192
so he slew
Harpagus' son
out of revenge.
3196
290
Cyrus and Harpagus
[bk. II
and had him
roasted and
served up to
his father at
table, a most
lamentable
thing to do.
This to seyne, be ful fals compassyng [p. 127] 3200
And couert moordre, wrouht bi Astriages,
The sone was slayn off Arpagus the kyng,
And afFtir rested, alias, ful causeles,
And sithe presentid, amongis al the pres, 3204
Toforn his fader, a thyng most lamentable,
With Astriages as he sat at* table.
When Harpagus But whan this kyng callid Arpagus
found out this ^^ iiii- i mi
horrible murder, Conceyued hath this moordre most terrible, 3208
a rage And how his sone & heir was slay[e]n thus.
In his ire most furious and odible,
In al the haste that it was possible.
He is repaired horn to his houshold, 3212
And al the cas to Cirus he hath told.
And how his sone was slay[e]n for his sake,
In the most hatful odious cruelte,
Excityng hym with hym to vndirtake 3216
On this fals moordre auengid for to be,
To hym declaryng off trouthe & equite.
How he was bor[e]n be discent in deede.
As riht[e] heir to regne in Perse & Mede. 3220
To hym declaryng the stori bi and bi.
First off the drem off Astriages,
And how that he be fraude ful falsli
Made his doubter, callid Mundanes, 3224
Poorli be weddid onto Cambises,
Which was his mooder, & how in tendre age
He was out cast to beestis ful sauage.
All things that Be a shcpperde and a shepperdesse 3228
God disposes t-> i i • ^r l ^
must come to Fostted he was m gret[ej pouerte,
wa'sVeordarn'^d And brouht fro beestis out off wildirnesse,
ruie^r'of Til Asia. Because God wolde he sholde saued be:
For thilke Lord, which euery-thyng may see, 3232
Whan that he hath a thyng aforn disposid,
Nedis it mut fall & may nat be deposid.
This said[e] Cirus, at his natyuyte,
Ordeyned was be reuolucioun 3236
Off the heuenli speeris, in noumbre thries thre,
(So stood that tyme his constellaciouw,)
and told Cyrus
what had hap-
pened, urging
him to take
vengeance and
telling him that
he was the
lawful heir to
Astyages' king-
dom, and how
his grandfather
had cast him
out to be eaten
by wild beasts.
3206. at] attheB, H s, P.
3215. odious hateful! H.
3233. aforn] be for H.
3 1 19. How] owi. R 3, P.
BK. Il]
Cyrus born to be King of Asia
291
That he sholde haue the domynacioun
Ouer al Asie, be influence dyuyne,
Aforn figured be spredyng off the vyne.
What may the fraude off sleihti folk auaile,
Innocentis to putte out off ther riht?
Thouh trouthe be hid amongis the poraile,
Hard brouht foorth, & dar nat shewe his Hht,
Yit God will ordeyne that the bemys briht
Shal sum o day shewe out his cleemesse,
Maugre all tho that wolde his title oppresse.
For this Cirus, as clerkis off hym write,
Was hi the title off his mooder side
Bom to be kyng al Asie tenherite,
Al-be his aiel from hym wolde it deuide;
But God, that can for trouthe best prouide,
Hath for Cirus be processe so ordeyned.
That he off Asie the lordshep hath atteyned.
Cirus that tyme was growe up weel on lengthe,
Weel proporciownyd off membris & stature.
Wonder delyuer, & passyng oflf gret strengthe,
Straunge emprises proudli to endure;
And to iuparte & putte in auenture
His owne persone, the fame was ofF hym so,
Was non mor likli wher men sholde haue a-do.
And bi the counsail ofi" kyng Arpagus,
Whan this Cirus was weel waxe in age.
With Perciens proude & surquedous.
And Archanytes cruel off corage.
For to recure his rihtful heritage
Be go with Cirus, armed in plate & maile.
With Astriages to holden [a] bataile.
And he ageynward gan to taken heede.
And with hym took[e] many worthi knyht.
With al the puissaunce off the lond off Mede
Hath take the feeld the same dai foorth-ryht,
To disherite Cirus off his ryht.
But God and trouthe was atwen hem tweyne
Egal iuge ther quarel to dareyne.
3241. spredyng] spryngj'ng H.
3256. up weel on] wele vpon H.
3259. Straunge] Strong H.
3269. a]om. J, P.
3240
What can the
fraud of men
avail to rob
innocents of
3244 their rights?
3248
3252
Cyrus wa» bom
to be king of
Asia, and in
spite of Asty-
ages, God's will
prevailed.
72?6 Cjmjs grew up
into a strong,
well-built man
3260
and by Har-
pagus' advice
3264 set out to give
battle to Asty-
ages.
3268
Astyages took
the field the
same day, with
all the power of
3272 Media,
3276
292 Cyrus conquers Astyages [[bk. II
but Cyrus won. The fccld ordcyncd, & splaied ther baneris,
On outher parti ful proudli on thel sette,
At thassemblyng lik liouws off ther cheris,
In the face as thei fersli mette 3280
With rouwde speris, ful sharp[e] grouwde & whette,
Til that Cirus, off grace mor than noumbre,
Off his aiel the parti dede encouwbre.
and, pursuing his This myhti Citus, this yonge champiouM, [p. 128] 3284
ages prisoner. Thoruhout the fecld gan such a slauhtre make,
With his knyhtis as he wente up and doun,
That as the deth his fomen hym forsake.
Astriages vnder his baner take, 3288
The feeld venquysshid, for al his fals veynglorie.
To shewe that riht hath alwey the victorie.
A man may A man off malice may a thyng purpose
purpose a thmg _^. r ^ i
of malice, but Bi a maner iroward prouydence; 3292
disposes, Tud" But God a-boue can graciousli dispose
wbs^intend. Ageyn such maUce to make resistence:
Men for a while may suffre violence
And wronges grete, wher-so that thei weende, 3296
But trouthe alway venquysshith at the eende.
fhaYhls'dream'^ Astriagcs fond ful sooth his drem;
?™h"oTman* Thouh he agcyn it made purueiance
is no match for To hauc* dcpryued Cirus off his rem, 3300
God's power. ^ t ^ i • l • J
He was deceyued m his ordynance:
For wher that God thoruh his myhti puissance
List for heires iustli to prouide,
Sleihte in such cas off man, is leid a-side. 3304
covSd^the'iand Maugte the myht[e] off Astriages,
°| Media, and^ Cirus on hym made a disconfiture;
in peace. And al Asic reioisshcd eek in pes.
Off verai riht, as was his auenture. 3308
And be iust title he dede also recure
The lond off Mede, lik as was his fate.
And into Perse he dede it hool translate.
ve^nTfur°Ind' Agcyn his aiel he was nat vengable, 3312
gave his 'grand- Which hadde wrouht to his destrucciouw,
father the fourth j • i i
partofArchania, But was to hym benygnc and merciable,
And grauwtid hym, off hool affeccioun,
The fourte part off the regioun 3316
3300. To haue] Ta B. 3315. graunted] growndid H.
BK. ii] Princes, do not oppose the Will of God 293
Off Archanye, off which afom I tolde,
Hym to sustenyn in his daies olde.
For kyng Cirus wold[e] nat his lyue °« did he wish
Suffre his aiel, off veray gentilesse, 3320 pnved of idngiy
nni ^ i_iji_ c I'J honour. Prince*
1 hat men sholde hym tynah depryue should always
Off kyngli honour, for non onkynd[e]nesse, — jnnl^^S'
To yeue exauwple to pryncis in sothnesse, mercy.
Thouh God ha[ue] youe hem power in erthe &
myht, 3324
Thei sholde ay merci medle with the ryht.
[^ Lenvoye.]
NOBLE Princis, your eris doth enclyne, Nobic Pnnces,
.| .... ,. . consider how
And considreth m your discreciouns, dreams shewn
How dremys shewed binfluence dyuyne 3328 encea^fike "'
Be nat lik sweuenys, but lik auysiouns, whkh^'wiii
Or resemblable to reuelaciouns,* trf™'^w'°
Which thouh men wolde distourbe & make faile,
God wil nat suffre ther malice to preuaile. 3332
Astriages drempte he sauh a vjme, Astyages* dream
Shewed off trouthe and non illusiouns, spite of aU his
From his doubter wombe, riht as lyne, disbherit
Spred in Asie ouer the regiouns; 3336 ^^^^
But to disherite be fals collusiouns
Yonge Cirus, the kyng dede his trauaile,
But God nat suffred his malice to preuaile.
Pryncis remembreth, ye that in honour shyne, 3340 Ff*"^.'' f=™ef°-
Vpon this stori in your entenciouns, and when God is
And beth weelwillid, wher God list forthrif a lyne va?ce a Sie\o
Outher to richesse or dominaciouns, I<rnot°oppoTe"
To fauour them to ther promociouns, — 3344 ^'* '^'^'
Be nat contrarie in your acquitaile,
Sithe God will suffre no malice to preuaile.
3317. afom] tofom H.
3327. considre H.
3330. reuelaciouns] reuolucioutis B, J, P, R 3, reuolucyons H [
3331. distourbe] distroble H, distrouble R 3.
3335. IjTie] any lyne H.
11 A A. nromvrinims H.
294 '^be Story of Candaules King of Lydia [bk. ii
[How Candalus kyng of Lide was made Cokewold /
and aftir slayn.] ^
As Bochas sat TTT'HIL lohn Bochas caste his look a-side,
writing in his V V T l • i • i
study, Candau- T T in his stuQic as he sat writvng, xxsi
les, king of rp , . , , a- T • f
Lydia, came 1 o fiis presence cam the kyng oit Lide
pre^nwTndb^ CalHd Candalus, ful pitousli pleynyng,
tXheX'of With salte teris ful lowli besechyng,
ce°vedan7ma1ic ^^^^ ^^ wolde, tasswagen his greuaunce, 3352
a cuckold by His dedH sorwe to putte in remembraunce.
(jyges, a knight *^
of his household, jjjg compleynt was most ofF onkynd[e]nesse,
For fals deceit, ageyn al skile and riht,
That wher his trust was most off gentilesse, 3356
He mokkid was, for al his gret[e] myht;
For off his hous ther was a certeyn knyht,
Giges callid, thyng shamful to be told,
To speke pleyn Inglissh, made hym a cokold. 3360
But I should not Alas, I was nat auysid weel beforn,
have used such ^_ ,. , ,,
a coarse word! Uncunwyngli to spekc such language;
sa?d1ie had a^^ I sholdc ha Said, how that he hadde an horn,
t°aT called^ oTr- Or souht sum tee[r]me with a fair visage 3364
nuto. Texcuse my rudnesse off this gret outrage,
As in sum land Cornodo men them call,
And summe afFerme how such folk ha[ue] no gall.
It happened This was the cas: whan Pheb^j shon [ful]
thus: One sum- , . ^
merdaythe shcCne [p. I29J 3368
queen lay nri • 1 •
naked on her 1 he somet sesouw m his ascencioun,
^^' Whan soote brauwchis wer clad in newe greene,
Heete inportable hadde domynaciouw.
Whan that the queen for recreacioun, 3372
Onprouyded that no man dede hit keepe,
Vpon hir bed lay naked for to sleepe.
and, as scholars And, as cletkis ofF hir beute write,
say, there was _-,, , - .
no fairer 1 her was a-iyue no tairere creature, 3376
creature alive;
Nor mor excellyng, lik as thei endite,
OfF semlynesse, hir stori doth assure:
3350. Candaules P.
3356. That] Til H. 3359. be told] beholde'H.
3364. teerme] teeme J, P, term H, terme H 5, tym R 3.
3369. The] This H.
3377. lik] of looke H.
1 MS. J. leaf 53 verso.
BK. ii] Candaules and Gyges bis Knight 295
CalHd for beute cosyn to Nature,
And worthi eek, ylfF I shal nat feyne, 3380
To be comparid to Griselde* or Eleyne.
Kynde in hir forge list nothyng to erre, ^f nat""
,17-i II- I I • did not blunder
Whan she hir wrouhte, bi gret auysynesse, when she
To make off beute the veray lode-sterre, 3384 «ce"p^t thar'she
And yeue hir fauour, beute & semlynesse; £^1^6? "'*"
But for Nature hadde so gret besynesse
To fourme a woman that was so fressh of hewe,
She hadde forgete for to make hir trewe. 3388
Hir eyen wer verai celestiall, she had
Hir her ontressid, lik Phebwj in his speer, — golden hair, an
A thyng rasemblyng that were inmortall, unfxampied ^""^
So angehk she was off look and cheer, 3392 ^tur^n^gieSd
An exauwplaire off port & off maneer, — ^ give her
T*! i» r -K ' constancy.
Ther was no lak, sauf Nature, thoruh hir slouthe,
Hadde lefft behynde to yeue hir feith & trouthe.
And on a day, as she lay slepyng 3396 That day Can-
Naked a-bedde, most goodli on to siht, hertoGyg^s.
Ful onwarli cam Candalus the kyng SuM Llt^hat
Into the chaumbre, wher Titan shon ful bryht, [l^auTffuiThan
And shewed hir beute onto his owne knyht, 3400 »"otherwomen.
Off entent he sholde ber witnesse
How she excellid all othir in faimesse.
And whan Giges gan in ordre see But Gyges feii
Off this queen the gret[e] excellence, 3404 Md°''»^n"afte/'
He was enamoured vpon hir beute J^dla'^ried'hlr.
Al the while he stood ther in presence,
Gan ymagyne a tresoun in silence.
To slen his lord, withoute long tarieng, 3408
Wynne the queen, and afftir regne as kyng.
This was the eende, doolful and pitous, That wa» the
To be remembrid hatful and terrible, fe^^ who^wasl"
Off this noble worthi Candalus; 3412 ?,t^r^^^'
For off his trust to moche he was credible
Onto Giges, the traitour most odible.
And yit mor foltissh, wherbi he lost his liff.
Outward to shewe the beute off his wiff. 3416
3381. Gresilde B, Grisilde J, P, Griselde H, Grysilde R 3,
Gresylde H 5.
3385. beutefauottrj — beute] ow. P. 3391. Immortall H.
3396. day] bedde H. 34CXD. his] hir H.
296
The Story of King Midas
[bk. II
Alas that a Thouh shc wcFC fair & goodli on to see,
queen or princess _,, °
should do such 1 hcF WES HO trust nOF HO sekimcsse,
only' excuse is For Other hadde as good[e] part as he, —
makes them Gigcs koudc here therofF witnesse.
double. Alas, a queen, or any gret pryncesse
Assente sholde hir fame for to trouble,
But yifF Nature excuse hem to be double.
3420
[How what thing kyng Midas touched was golde/
yitt deied he in misery and wrecchidnesse.] ^
Gyges was soon
afterwards
crowned king
of Lydia.
Midas next
appeared, and,
weeping, told
Bochas his
complaint.
BUT who-so-euer was therwith loth or fayn,
Giges was afPtir crownyd kyng off LIde,
Whan that his lord was be tresoun slayn.
Off hym the surplus Bochas set a-side.
And in his studi, as he dede abide,
Ther cam off Frige, Midas the riche kyng.
Told myn auctour his compleynt with wepyng.
Never was there Fot thet was neuer, be conquest nor labour,
When he was No kyng afom that hadde mor richesse,
bom, ants laid
grams
of -wheat Nor mor plente off gold nor off tresour.
about his cradle. ^^ whose berthe poetis thus expresse:
A-boute his cradel amptis gan hem* dresse,
Whil he slepte, and gan a-boute hym leyn
A ful gret nouwbre off purid whete greyn.
and diviners Whcrupon, most cxpcrt dyuynouts,
the conclusion As thei took heed in ther attend auwce,
that he would 01 r i L ^ '^
excel all men in buch as wer[ejn best expositours,
wealth. Saide it was a tokne off habundaunce.
To haue off richesse al maner suffisaunce,
And concludyng, pleynli gan to tell.
How he alle other in tresour sholde excell.
It was also said Poetis off hym wrot that were ful olde,
that Bacchus
granted his
request, that
whatever he
touched would
turn to gold.
3424
3428
3432
3436
3440
3444
How Bachus gaff hym — the myhti God of wyn, —
What he toucheth shal turnen into golde
As good as that which cam out off the myn, 3448
At all assaies to been as pur and fyn.
This request, as writ Ouidius,
Was onto Midas grau7itid off Bachus.
3435. hem] hym B. 3437. A] om. H.
1 MS. J. leaf 53 verso.
BK. Il]
Midas and his Golden Touch
297
He thouhte gold myhte hym most auaile
What he handlid was gold with touchyng,
But whan hunger his stomak gan assaile,
His bred, his mete was cleer gold in shewyng;
And whan he gan to faile off his fedyng,
And fond in gold no recour to escape,
Besouhte Bachus sum remedi to shape.
Bachus bad hym go bathe in a ryuer
To wasshe a-way the colour aureat,
Wher yit is shewed the goldi grauel cleer.
Which exaumple declareth to ech estat.
That gold alone maketh men nat fortunat:
For what may gold or tresour ther auaile,
Wher men in hunger fynde no vitaile?
Or what is worth* gold, perle or stonys red,
Grene emeraudis or saphir[e]s ynde.
Fd. \xd\ Xi<i2 But as he could
If J JO'tO not eat gold,
when he became
hungry he
begged Bacchus
to help him,
3456
and, following
Bacchus's
3460 advice
bathed in a
river. The
gravel still
shines golden
there.
3464
This only proves
that a barley
loaf is some-
Whan men enfamyned ha[ue] no[u]ther greyn nor more than
3472
bred.
Nor in such myscheefF vitaile may non fynde
For to fostre ther nature and ther kynde, —
A barli lofF in such a distresse
Mor myhte auaile than al worldli richesse!
This knew Midas, & was expert in deede,
Thouh he off gold hadde so gret plente,
That with metall he myhte hymselfF nat feede.
Which caused hym off necessite 3476
To considre and cleerli for to see.
That bred mor vailith for fostryng off nature.
Than al [the] richesse that men may heer recure.
For which this kyng gan haten al richesse;
Gold and tresour he hadde eek in disdeyn,
LeflFte his crowne and his roial noblesse.
And ches to keepe sheep vpon a pleyn.
Al worldli worshepe was to hym but veyn.
OfF malencolie & froward pouerte,
Endid his lifF in gret aduersite.
3454. gan] did H.
3458. shape] make H.
3461. yit] it P.
3466. worth] worthi B, J, worthy H, H 5.
3478. availith H.
3479. the] om. J, P, H 5 — hear] om. H.
3484. was] isH.
,_ all worldly
3400 riches,
as Midas learned
by experience.
348Q As a result he
began to hate
all wealth, left
his throne and
became a
shepherd.
3484
298 The End of Midas. Belshazzar [bk. 11
His end was FoF ofF irc and inpacience,
very terrible, for _, n i • i i • i
in his great need 1* y Rally thus With hym It stood : 3488
he drank the -rx • , . . , . ...
blood of a mad- T unousli iH his gtct indigence,
became^mad'"'^ As Writ Bochas, How He dtank the blood
himseifanddied.Qfp^ bolc, sauagync and wood,
With loue enchaufid,* made no delaies, 3492
Most bestlali eendid thus his daies.
[Off Balthasar kyng of Babilone and how Danyel
expowned, Mane, Techel, Phares.] ^
Belshazzar mis- "V TEXT to Bochas, OF that he was war,
used the sacred
As he sat writyng with ful gret labowr,
sai^m,' '° ' OfF Babilon cam grete Baltazar 3496
To declare his sorwe and his langowr.
Which had mysusid ful falsli the tresowr
And the vesseles brouht fro Jerusalem,
In Babilon cheefF cite ofF his rewm. 3500
drinking For at z souDcr with his lordis all,
wine out of them ._^, rr-i i-ii i l*
at a supper, sur- Whan ott the vesselis he drank myhti wynes,
concubines^and' And solcmpU sat in his roial stall,
magicians. p^^^ round a-boute all his concubynes, 3504
Philisophres, magiciens and dyuynes,
Ther cam an hand, the Bible doth assure.
And on the wall gan writen this scripture:
when suddenly MattC techcl pharcs wreten in his siht, 3508
a hand wrote
wall.
a hand wrote rr^, 111 1 11
A/an/, Techii, Thouh he the menyng conceyued neueradeel,
i«t?" onVhf ' Which on the wall shewed cleer & briht,
Fro whos sentence auailed non appel.
But the prophete, hooli Danyel, 3512
FuUi expownyd to Baltazar the kyng
The mysterie ofF this derk writyng.
3487. Impacience H.
3488. yiith hym thus H.
3492. enchaufid] eschaufid B, eschaufed J, R 3.
3501. a] om. H.
3503. solempnely H, R 3, solemnely P.
35 10. cleer] fayre P.
* MS. J leaf 54 recto.
BK. ii] The Writing on the Wall 299
" This woord Mane, pleynli and nat tarie, SlmdS^'^ed
In Latyn tunge betokneth in substaunce, 3516 to him that
The daies countid & rekned the noumbrarie Latin,
Off thi regnyng & off thi gret substaunce. n^^b«^'^
And Techel sowneth a weieng in ballaunce, ^^^flmg.
In tokne thi power & kyngdam be mesure, 3520 i°^fbli^^
God hath hem peised, thei shal no while endure.
Phares also betokneth a brekyng, "Pkares
_ _, . • 1 means a break-
In Komayn tunge, into pecis smaie; ingintosmaU
For thi power & froward rebellyng 3524 ^'^'»h°i ^
Shal from an hih be brouht into the vale, iS^lWoTy
This Hooli Writ & no feyned tale : Wm a^dj^o^^
For whan pryncis wil nat ther liff redresse, warned long ago
y-^ 1 Ml !• 1 1- by the fall of
God will onwarli ther surquedie represse. 3528 Nebuchadnezzar
and you took no
Thou wer be toknys warned longe affor, \^^ ^ H
Be many exauwple, the story ye may reede, be brouht low."
Bi the fallyng oflF Nabugodonosor,
And thou theroff took ful litil heede, 3532
The Lord to thanke & haue his name in dreede.
For which thou shalt withynne a litil throwe
Lese sceptre & crowne, & be brouht ful lowe."
[Lenvoye.] ^
9 Lat prjmcis all this story haue in mynde, [p. 131] 3536 Let aii prince.
And for themsilfF[e] notabli prouide, ^^"nd put"*
A[nd] namli thei that be to God onkynde, Sm SdX-
Ther concubynes for to sette a-side, '"'^ ^''^**
And make vertu for to been ther guide, 3540
Voide lecheri and fals presumpcioun.
Which haue* so many brouht to destruccioun.
Nabugodonosor hadde repentaunce, Nebuchadnezzar
• J .... . repented, and
And was restond to his possessiouns; 3544 was restored to
But God off riht took sodenli vengaunce g^ took%en!?*
On Balthasar for his transgressiouns. S^!" ^*^
Wherfore, ye Pr3mcis, disposith your resouns,
3517. &